Early Bird

In memoriam

Remembering the life of Ellen Slatkin.

By Cory Phare

August 21, 2019

Beloved faculty member Ellen Slatkin passed away Sunday at her home.

The longtime Metropolitan State University of Denver educator in the Department of History was dedicated to serving her students and colleagues for more than three decades. A product of Denver Public Schools, Slatkin went on to receive her Bachelor of Arts degree from Simmons College in Boston, a master’s degree from the University of Denver and a doctorate in education from the University of California – Los Angeles.

Slatkin was given the 2018 Distinguished Service Award for Faculty for her exemplary work teaching for the University. During her career, she touched the lives of countless students as mentor and friend.

“She inspired all her students to be better, to never stop improving,” said a former student who wished to remain anonymous. “She instilled in us a desire to speak out when we saw injustice and utilized her knowledge of the past to explain the importance of taking action in the present.”

As the president of the Metropolitan State Faculty Federation and past president of the American Federation of Teachers-Colorado, she worked tirelessly to advance the role of the professoriate, always with warmth and compassion as colleague and friend.

“Ellen showed me what solidarity really means,” said Sheila Rucki, professor of political science and past president of MSU Denver’s Faculty Senate. “I watched her in amazement while she fought for faculty, for students and for MSU Denver as a whole. Even when it was hard, even when the cause seemed lost, even at great personal sacrifice, she fought for what is right. She made this place, and me, better.”

“She was a fierce and smart advocate for faculty who cared deeply about both MSU Denver’s students and those who taught them,” added Provost Vicki Golich, Ph.D. “Her loss is heartbreaking.”

Services were held Tuesday at Denver’s BMH-BJ Synagogue. A campuswide celebration of her life is being planned and will be announced soon.

Contributions can be made in memory of Slatkin to the Pamela McIntyre-Marcum Endowed Memorial Scholarship Fund.