Dear Colleagues,

I share with you sad news from the Psychology Department in the College of Letters and Science. Associate Professor Emeritus Susan Lima passed away on October 17, 2021, shortly after her retirement in May 2021. Sue joined the Psychology Department at UWM in 1986.

Sue earned her BA from Brown University, and her MS and PhD in Cognitive Psychology from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Dr. Lima’s research was centered in the study of psycholinguistics, especially lexical decision making and aging. Her work on aging adults’ slowing response times was funded, in part, from grant funding from the Institute on Aging. Dr. Lima and her colleagues were able to demonstrate that the widely observed differential between young adults and aging adults is not only remarkable, but also relatively constant across levels of task complexity and phonological and lexical task interference. The implications of Dr. Lima’s research on general slowing for semantic priming and word recognition provided testimony to the fundamental role played by the reduction in processing speed during aging.

For the latter part of her career, Sue served as the Director of Graduate Studies in the Psychology Department. Her dedication to the students in the graduate programs was pivotal to the success of hundreds of graduate students. Some of the comments offered at the time of her retirement highlight her central role in their success:

“Every department needs a Sue Lima. Someone who knows what is important, who is organized, who cares about students, who gets stuff done. I feel lucky I got to have Sue as a source of guidance on what to do and how to make it happen.”

“When I think of you some words come to mind: smart, strong, respectful, kind, dedicated, and very hard working. Please know that your support truly made a difference in my life as a graduate student.”

“I have so many fond memories of seeking guidance in your office. You were always there for us in many ways. Your teaching and mentorship have influenced the ways that I teach and mentor others. Thank you for setting an inspiring example for me, as you did for countless others.”

At her request, no memorial service was held. Her remains were returned to her childhood home in Massachusetts.

Our condolences go to Sue’s family and to the many others whose lives she touched.

Take care,

Johannes

 

Johannes Britz
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs