Scholarship Honors Beloved Professor

DANBURY — When Western Connecticut State University Associate Professor of Communication Khalda Logan-Eaton succumbed to cancer last March, a stunning sense of loss swept the university community and all those who had known her. Only 39 at the time of her death, Prof Logan-Eaton already had accomplished more than most can aspire to in a lifetime twice as long — yet left behind so much unfulfilled promise.

Not only a professor at WCSU, Logan-Eaton also was an alumna, adding a WCSU bachelor of arts in media communications, cum laude, to the bachelor of science in biology/pre-med that she had obtained previously at Adelphi University. She subsequently went on to receive a master of arts in media ecology and a master of fine arts in dance, both at New York University. In addition to her duties as a tenured associate professor of communication at WCSU, Prof Logan-Eaton also was a principal dancer with the Nicholasleichterdance company in New York, and mentored the WCSU Dance Team.

Michael Eaton, her husband, said in seeking to find a way to share a piece of his wife’s life with those who loved her — and even those who never had the privilege to make her acquaintance — he seized upon how inspiring others found her. That is why he and other family members created the Khalda Logan Inspiration Scholarship at WCSU. The annual scholarship will be awarded to a WCSU student who “embodies the compassion, spirit and drive that Professor Khalda Logan displayed throughout her life.”

A benefit event, “A Celebration of Dance — A Performance to Benefit the Khalda Logan Inspiration Scholarship,” will be at 7:30 pm on Thursday, October 18, in Ives Concert Hall in White Hall on the WCSU Midtown campus, 181 White Street. Adult admission will be $10; children and student tickets will be $5. A memorial foundation has been established in Prof Logan-Eaton’s name to fund scholarships at both WCSU and NYU. The website is khaldalogan.org.

For more information, call the Office of University Relations at 837-8486.