The Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs has approved two resolutions honoring SACUA member Sarah Lippert, who died April 24 at the age of 43.
Lippert, associate professor of art history in the UM-Flint College of Arts and Sciences, died after suffering a pulmonary embolism, according to an email sent to the UM-Flint community Tuesday. Funeral information can be found in her online obituary.
She was elected to SACUA, the executive arm of U-M’s central faculty governance system, in 2018. Lippert also chaired the Senate Assembly’s Tri Campus Committee, which evaluated issues related to the relationship among U-M’s three campuses and policies across the institution.
At its meeting Monday, SACUA adopted two resolutions by members Bill Schultz and Sami Malek.
In his resolution, Schultz said Lippert was a fine scholar of faculty governance and art history, and she chaired several important committees on the Flint campus, including serving as president of the area’s American Association of University Professors chapter.
“She was a champion of the underdog, challenging administrators and faculty alike that did not have her depth of knowledge of university governance regulations, procedures and best practices,” said Schultz, professor of mechanical engineering, College of Engineering.
In Malek’s resolution, he said Lippert was an engaged and fierce supporter of faculty rights, and that she believed strongly in due process.
“Dr. Lippert envisioned a university guided by principled interactions between university stakeholders,” said Malek, professor of internal medicine, Medical School. “Her overriding goals were in making the university a better place. She displayed personal courage, civility and grace in her pursuit and was an inspiration to SACUA and the faculty at large.”
Lippert earned her Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University, and her areas of expertise included art, art history and Renaissance to modern art, with a focus on the French and British.
She was the recipient of a Samuel H. Kress Travel Fellowship in the History of Art and a fellowship from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
Deirdre Spencer
Rest in peace and power, my colleague and friend.