coe-staff: Sad News - COE student loss

[Education Dean]

Dear COE Community, Faculty, Staff, and Students,

We are writing with heavy hearts to share the news that one of our students passed away this weekend. We learned yesterday that Special Education doctoral student, Erick Njue, tragically died in a cyclist-motorist accident in Eugene. Erick’s family has been notified and arrangements are underway. Erick was widely known across multiple programs in and outside of the College of Education, and his loss will be broadly felt.

Those who knew Erick uniformly remember a positive, impactful, and a bright light within our community.

This is incredibly sad. Erick worked closely with many of us, and we navigate this loss with uniquely heavy hearts. We know that news like this can bring up a wide range of emotions—grief, shock, confusion, or a renewed sense of vulnerability—and that each person will experience and process this loss differently. The Office of the Dean of Students is arranging a session to be held for community members, friends, and students at Spencer View apartments. We will share that information as soon as we receive it. We will also be coordinating support session(s) at the College of Education. Information on those sessions will also be shared as arrangements are made.

In the interim, we encourage care of selves and one another in the days ahead. If you find that this news is particularly difficult, or if it brings up feelings or experiences that feel overwhelming, please reach out for support. Counseling and support services<https://counseling.uoregon.edu/services> are prepared to help anyone who may need some additional support based on the details of this situation. Reaching out for support whether professionally or personally is a sign of care for yourself, it is not a burden to others.

Our College of Education faculty and instructors are aware of the broad impact of this or any loss of a member of our community and while themselves managing the loss, will be mindful of students who may be impacted in different ways and at different times. Flexibility, patience, and understanding will make a meaningful difference for students who are navigating grief while continuing their academic work. Faculty and staff are encouraged to assist students by helping them connect with appropriate campus resources when needed.

If you are concerned about a community member during this time, or unsure how best to support someone, please do not hesitate to reach out for guidance.

Our thoughts are with Erick’s family, cohort, friends, instructors, and all those who are grieving this loss. As a community, we hold space for one another during this difficult time.

With a sad heart,

Emily Tanner-Smith | Interim Dean & Thomson Professor (she/her)

University of Oregon | College of Education

230 HEDCO Education Building | Eugene, OR 97403-1215

https://education.uoregon.edu<https://education.uoregon.edu/> |  https://hedcoinstitute.uoregon.edu/

[Logo for the University of Oregon's College of Education]<https://www.uoregon.edu/>
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