Dear Colleagues:

It is with profound regret that I pass along the sad news of the passing of our friend and colleague, Dr. Marybelle Keim. In addition to serving two separate terms as President of the Council for the Study of Community Colleges (CSCC)--one of only a handful of individuals to do so--Marybelle served as Historian of the CSCC for nearly two decades.

For many years, Marybelle directed Southern Illinois University's program that prepared faculty for teaching careers at community colleges across the 'Land Between the Rivers,' the beautiful Southern Illinois region. Her scholarship spanned both the student affairs and community college arenas, and included a significant and sustained interest in the study of the field of higher and community college education itself. She cared about how we come to know what we know, and this fired her interest to serve for nearly two decades as Historian of our Council. She was also part of many innovative efforts to try to help students succeed, such as the dissertation "boot camp" she ran with our colleague Janice Sandiford for a number of years.

Marybelle served our organization with dedication and distinction. Her unfailing good cheer was part and parcel of the authentic welcome she graciously gave to CSCC members, new and old, at our annual receptions at the Association for the Study of Higher Education, and our own meetings as well. Marybelle was deeply committed to the Council for the Study of Community Colleges, and considered our group her academic home. She very much appreciated the resolution of thanks our Board approved at our April, 2010 meeting, for her many years of service to our organization as Historian, President, and as a Board Member.

In recognition of her many contributions to our organization, the Keim Family graciously agreed to establish the Keim Memorial Scholarship Fund, to support graduate student travel to attend CSCC meetings. This is a most fitting way to honor Marybelle's selflessness spirit of service. Those interested in making a donation are encouraged to write a check to the Council for the Study of Community Colleges, indicated in the memo "Keim Student Scholarship Fund", and mailing to the UCLA, Graduate School of Education and Information Studies, P.O. Box 951521, Los Angeles, CA 90095- 1521.
UCLA: http://www.legacy.com/legacies/ucla/?affiliateID=1738%3E

Below is a link to the full obituary that ran in this morning's Southern Illinoisan. The link below to the full obituary is provided to those CSCC members who would like to also sign the electronic guest book and provide remembrances that the Keim Family might see.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thesouthern/obituary.aspx?n=marybelle-keim&pid=148094890

Additionally, we plan to have a remembrance of Marybelle at our upcoming 2011 meeting, during the 53rd Annual CSCC Conference in New Orleans.

Sincerely,

Steve Katsinas
President
Council for the Study of Community Colleges

*******************************************

Southern Illinoisan
January 26, 2011

CARBONDALE -- Marybelle Chase Rockey Keim, 77, passed away Sunday, Jan. 23, 2011, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Born July 28, 1933, in Odebolt, Iowa, to Ardythe and Kermit Chase, Marybelle graduated from college at University of Northern Iowa in 1955 and obtained a master's degree in educational psychology and guidance at University of Northern Colorado, and then a Doctorate of Philosophy in higher education at Michigan State University. She served on the faculty at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), University of Missouri-Kansas City and at Southern Illinois University.

She joined Southern Illinois University in 1985 and was rapidly promoted to professor of higher education in the Department of Educational Administration and Higher Education. Throughout her long and vibrant career, she focused on programs in community college education, organization and administration of higher education and higher education graduate programs.

Dr. Keim was a scholar at heart, having served as editor of seven volumes of Directory of Graduate Preparation Programs in College Student Personnel. She published widely and was an author of more than 100 books, peer-reviewed manuscripts, monographs and reports. She lectured broadly, and was widely recognized as an expert in higher education.

An educator in both mind and spirit, she was devoted and committed to teaching. As with all teachers, she was generous with her time and was intimately involved in student development and mentorship, having served as an advisor for some 450 master's and doctoral candidates completing theses, research papers and doctoral dissertations; her students bestowed on her innumerable accolades in recognition of her many contributions to their professional development. As evidence of these contributions, she won numerous awards for excellence in teaching, including Outstanding Faculty Award, Students in Student Affairs at Southern Illinois University in 1996. She also held hundreds of local, national and international workshops devoted to teaching teachers.

Dr. Keim was also widely recognized for her academic excellence and spirit, having served on more than 50 university and college committees. Her stature in the field was fittingly recognized by her active participation and contributions to a number of national professional societies. She was a founding member of Association for the Study of Higher Education. She served as a member of the executive council for American College Personnel Association and was twice president of Council for the Study of Community Colleges, which recognized her many contributions in 2010. Additionally, she served as the council's historian for 20 years.

Marybelle loved music and played the piano, flute, and clarinet. She also loved traveling, history, reading, writing and companionship. She was preceded in death by her late husband, Dr. William Keim. Five sons, Don, Dale, Doug, Dave and Daryl; and three stepchildren, John, Carolyn and Curt as well as 15 grandchildren survive her.

In recognition of Dr. Keim's commitment to students and her career contributions to higher education, Council for the Study of Community Colleges has developed a memorial scholarship fund that will specifically support student attendance at the council's annual meeting. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in honor of Dr. Keim may be made to Council for the Study of Community Colleges Keim Student Scholarship Fund, UCLA<http://www.legacy.com/legacies/ucla/?personid=148094890&affiliateID=1738> Graduate School of Education and Information Studies, P.O. Box 951521, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1521.

Services will be from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011, in Meredith Funeral Home of Carbondale with the Rev. John Annable officiating. A reception will follow the services at Houlihan's restaurant in Carbondale.

Published in The Southern Illinoisan on January 26, 2011