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Professor Emeritus Thomas C. Blackburn, an author and scholar whose research focused on the indigenous Chumash tribe of the central and southern coastal regions of California, passed away on July 15, 2024. He was 87.

Dr. Blackburn was an Anthropology professor in the Department of Geography and Anthropology from 1965 to 1999. He was the author, coauthor and editor of several books on California Native Americans, including “December’s Child: A book of Chumash Oral Narratives,” the five-volume “Material Culture of the Chumash Interaction Sphere,” and “Before the Wilderness: Environmental Management by Native Californians.” His passion for his research and interest in the Chumash tribe took him to more than 140 museums throughout the U.S. Europe and Russia. Dr. Blackburn began his career as an archeologist, but later shifted his focus to ethno-history, becoming one of California’s key scholars on the subject.

His legacy is an inspiration to us all. He will be dearly missed as an educator, a scholar, an editor, a mentor, and a friend.

It is with a heavy heart we share the news that our colleague and friend, Dr. Mike Reibel, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on November 12, 2020. Mike’s passing is a great loss to our Geography and Anthropology Department family. Mike was a valued colleague and mentor to many – faculty, staff, and students alike. Conversations with Mike were always stimulating, whether the topic centered on his beloved children or partner, geography of urban ethnicity, social justice of drinking water access, spatial patterns of organ donors, his Sicilian heritage, a poem he was working on, or his latest batch of vegan chili.

A staunch advocate of labor unions and social justice, Mike imbued his research and teaching with these elements. He was serious about student success and took genuine interest in helping students progress. Mike spoke frankly of joy and learning gained through interactions with students in his classes, in the Department of Geography and Anthropology, and at the Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies. 

Mike was an intellectual giant and affable colleague whose contributions to our department and the discipline of geography were numerous – more than two dozen scholarly publications, chairing the DRTP committee, acting as CFA representative, chairing the GIS advisory board, and serving on the editorial boards for Population and Environment and Progress in Transplantation. And Mike was always ready with a kind or supportive word or a quick ironic observation. 

Mike embraced life to the fullest and would admonish us for missing his important parting lesson – heed the fleeting nature of life by embracing the moment and genuinely holding those in our presence and thoughts with care, which Mike did so well.

Dr. Chen was a rising scholar and a bright star in the department.  Though her time with us was short, she made a long lasting impact on the department and especially on her students.  She was an excellent teacher, an engaged mentor, a great colleague, and most of all, a very intelligent, sincere, and caring person.

We are raising funds to establish the Dr. Kun Chen Endowed Memorial Scholarship to help generations of future students who will continue what Kun started.  Our goal is to raise a minimum of $50,000 in funds to establish this endowed scholarship. We hope her name will be forever associated with the department, the university, and future students she loved so much. To make a contribution to the Dr. Kun Chen Endowed Memorial Scholarship Fund, view the  Chen Memorial Scholarship.