Renate Simson, a Syracuse University professor in the African American Studies department, died earlier this week.

Simson died on Sunday, according to an Instagram photo posted Tuesday by SU’s Student African American Society. A staff member in the AAS department on Wednesday confirmed that Simson died.

Simson has been a previous chair of the department. She published more than 30 articles and chapters in journals and books during her career, according to her faculty webpage. She also published a book in 2007 about inequalities of New York state public schools, per the webpage.

One of Simson’s primary research interests was 19th century African American literature, according to her faculty webpage.

“We are keeping her family and her SU family in our hearts,” the Instagram post reads. “If you’d like to send flowers or anything please direct them to the AAS department.”

Courtesy of Syracuse University