UW campus leader dies of leukemia

Fannie LeMoine

Fannie LeMoine, a champion of academic excellence and an architect of undergraduate enhancement programs at UW–Madison died early this morning (Aug. 18) following a 20-year battle with leukemia.

LeMoine, professor of classics and comparative literature, joined the UW faculty as an instructor in 1966. She chaired the Department of Classics in 1971, and became one of the first teachers in the United States to introduce the study of science fiction and fantasy in her courses on Rome, Latin and Masterpieces of Western Literature. Starting in 1972, she taught a regularly fill-to-capacity colloquium on fantasy and science fiction.

LeMoine assumed the chair of the humanities divisional committee in 1974. She said the experience whetted her appetite for administrative work to find out, she said, how such a complex institution worked.

More administrative duties followed: As chair of the UW–Madison Faculty Senate’s powerful University Committee in 1983-84, LeMoine advocated raising faculty salaries, then the lowest among the nation’s top 20 institutions. LeMoine chaired the university’s initiative, “Future Directions: The University in the 21st Century” in 1986-87. She also spearheaded efforts to implement the report’s recommendations in 1989. Her efforts have led to a burgeoning growth in research opportunities for undergraduates, such as the Hilldale Fellowships, which pair distinguished faculty with undergraduate students. She also served as associate dean for the humanities in UW–Madison’s College of Letters and Science and an associate dean in the UW–Madison Graduate School since 1994. For the last two years she has been involved with the UW Law School’s Law and Humanities Project and its journal, Graven Images.

LeMoine also became a strong and outspoken advocate of public service as part of the university’s mission, and in 1990 the Wisconsin Alumni Association honored her with its University Service Award.

The year before, LeMoine defined the role of higher education: “What we want to do is provide an atmosphere in which people can make connections and establish relations among ideas.”

According to Virginia Hinshaw, dean of the UW Graduate School, LeMoine’s work will be remembered across campus and beyond it. “Fannie contributed in so many ways and truly enriched the lives of faculty, staff and students with whom she worked. Her courageous spirit and positive attitude will continue to inspire all of us. We are surely saddened by her death, but also thankful we had the chance to work with such a great person.”

Born in 1940, LeMoine was married to Sigurd Midelfort; she is survived by him and two sons. Arrangements for memorial services are pending.