University Community Mourns Death Of A Colleague

We lost a member of our UNC Charlotte community this weekend. Jeannine Skinner, assistant professor of gerontology/psychology in the Department of Psychological Science, passed away at age 35.

She was found in an apartment in the Ayrsley community in southwest Charlotte on Friday, after police received a request to make a welfare check, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD). The police are investigating her death as a homicide and on Monday reported the arrest of a suspect in her killing.

UNC Charlotte Chancellor Philip L. Dubois has made a statement to the campus community, which can be found here.

Here also is a statement from Nancy Gutierrez, dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, and Nancy Fey-Yensan, dean of the College of Health and Human Services.

“We are deeply saddened by the death of Jeannine Skinner, who was a valued member of the faculty in both of our colleges, through her work in the cross-college Gerontology Program. While Jeannine was a member of our university community for only two years, she already was excelling in her work with students and making significant community contributions in her research on aging.

She approached her students, her research, and her relationships with colleagues and the broader community with an open and giving spirit. She was a collaborator who wanted her work to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Through her focus on the cognitive functioning in aging, she was particularly able to help underserved and minority older adults. She was known for her quiet dignity and for creating a classroom setting that inspired students to engage deeply and to find the best in themselves.

We extend our heartfelt sympathy to all who loved Jeannine, as we mourn this loss.”