Education professor Kawanna J. Simpson was found dead at her apartment at 4030 Tates Creek Rd. Friday afternoon. Simpson, 48, was an associate professor of secondary education in the department of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education.
According to a Fayette County coroner's report, Simpson reportedly was found unresponsive at her residence at 12:05 p.m. on Friday. The death is being investigated as a suicide.
Simpson was also a former associate dean in the College of Education.
"Dr. Simpson exemplified the best in education. She was committed to her students and to the improvement of education in the state of Kentucky," said Shirley C. Raines, dean of the college in a statement released Friday. "She will be deeply missed."
Simpson was a member of the University Senate, and also served on several committees for the Council of Higher Education.
Raines also said Simpson consistently received outstanding teaching evaluations from her students. Simpson was also a graduate program adviser. In 1977, she received the Exceptional Achievement Award for Teaching and Advising and in 1984, she was awarded with Kentucky's Outstanding Business Teacher of the Year Award.
She was appointed by the Education Professional Standards Board to the Council on Experienced Teacher Standards.
She began as a graduate assistant in Business Education in 1972 and held several positions in the college, including assistant professor of business education and associate professor of business education.
She was a visiting professor in China in 1985. From 1983 to 1986 she was head of the Business education unit in the Department of Vocational Education.
Simpson was also a member of the Mayor's Task Force for the Homeless and was also a participant in the Circle of Love, a program that gives Christmas gifts to needy children.