Dr. Mindy Engle-Friedman

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Mindy Engle-Friedman, 68, after an extended battle with cancer. Dr. Engle-Friedman, Professor of Psychology, was a bright light that illuminated many corners of our college community. In her 38 years as a faculty member, she fostered the research interests of hundreds of undergraduate students, many though the department’s NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) grant, on which she served as PI or Co-PI through multiple renewals. She energized our students, faculty, and community to engage with the challenges of climate change, creating a Faculty Research Seminar on Climate Change and the Baruch and CUNY Climate Scholars Programs. She was also committed to creating an environment that was caring, uplifting, and fair. Students reflecting on Dr. Engle-Friedman’s many contributions to WSAS’s Masters in Mental Health Counseling program, mentioned that if they found themselves in an ethical dilemma, they just would ask themselves “What would Professor Engle-Friedman do?”. Indeed, she was not one to shy away from difficult situations. After 9/11, Dr. Engle-Friedman took it upon herself to help students, faculty, and staff process those devastating events. Impressed with her sensitivity in a time of crisis, the Provost and Associate Provost (at the time) asked her to step into the role of Ombuds, a role she held until this Spring when illness made it too difficult for her to continue.

Dr. Engle-Friedman’s research was motivated by a core desire to improve the quality of living, either at the level of the organism (i.e., understanding the effects of sleep deprivation) or at the global level (i.e., raising awareness of climate change and global warming). She then implemented her research knowledge in the service of significant initiatives at Baruch College—with an eye toward influencing the world beyond it through the continuing work and passion of her students. Not surprisingly, Dr. Engle-Friedman received many awards for her exceptional contributions to Baruch College. For her dedication to teaching our students, she was recognized with the 2000 Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching. For her dedication to the mission of the college, she was recognized not only with the 2011 Presidential Excellence Award for Distinguished Service, but also the 2022 17 Lexington Society Award and the 2022 WSAS Excellence Award in Service and Institutional Leadership.

The light that she brought to our college will not be extinguished, even as Mindy will be dearly missed.