Former SIU-Carbondale professor Barbara Brown has passed away.
Brown taught political science at SIU-C from 1985 to 2000.
For more than a decade, she also taught American government and democracy classes to international students through a federally funded summer program at SIU.
Brown served as the Circuit Clerk in Randolph County from 2000-2012.
Brown was active in southern Illinois politics.
At the time of her passing, she was the President of the Illinois Women's Institute for Leadership and Southern Illinois Democratic Women. Brown was also a member of the Illinois Democratic State Central Committee.
Illinois U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, released the following statement after learning of Brown's death.
“Barb Brown dedicated her life and her boundless energy to teaching and giving back to her community and her church. She was a devoted mother, an inspirational professor and a tireless public servant. Barb was a trailblazer, running for office when many women held back. She engaged her students in the real work of democracy and inspired them by her example. Southern Illinois has lost one of its brightest lights and Loretta and I have lost a dear friend of 30 years.”
