Remembering Professor Michelle Bezanson

Michelle Bezanson, Ph.D., an award-winning professor of anthropology for 17 years at Santa Clara, died on Tuesday, April 16, following a battle with cancer.

A native of Tucson, Ariz., Bezanson began teaching at Santa Clara in 2006. She had been recognized for her work numerous times during her tenure at Santa Clara, receiving both the Logothetti Teaching Award and the University Award for Recent Achievement in Scholarship.

A statement shared on social media by the anthropology department read, in part, “We are heartbroken but know she would want us to celebrate the precious time we had with her and all that she did to make our department a generative place to think and learn in.” 

Beyond her professional achievements as an anthropologist, Bezanson is remembered by her colleagues as a professor completely devoted to the well-being of her students, in and out of the classroom.

“That was really her ethos: That we’re, as faculty, here to support the students,” said Dr. Lee Panich, chair of the anthropology department.

She began many of her lectures with check-ins, asking students how they were doing and posing poll questions to the class. Even as she neared the end of her life, Bezanson continued to attend student events virtually whenever she could. 

Sam Grace, a lecturer in the anthropology department, recalls being in the same Zoom meeting as Bezanson only a few weeks before her passing.

“She had so much life,” Grace said. 

Bezanson never wanted to be defined by her illness, even when her prognosis worsened. She was a consistently strong presence and never wanted to let her physical condition distract from any other aspects of her work, Grace said.

Bezanson regularly brought her work to life by creating colorful illustrations, some of which were published in academic journals, according to a remembrance sent out to faculty members by the College of Arts and Sciences.

Grace first met Bezanson when Grace was interviewing to be a lecturer in the anthropology department. During that process, Bezanson–without being asked–made it clear to Grace that in the anthropology department, all faculty would be treated with respect, regardless of their status as a lecturer or a professor.

A primatologist, Bezanson led trips to Costa Rica with students to do research in the field. Whether in her work as an anthropologist or her passion for creating art, “she walked the walk,” Grace said.

In a YouTube video posted in 2008, Bezanson reflected on her experiences with students during these field courses in Costa Rica: “Seeing them see what they’ve been watching on Discovery or the nature shows and actually seeing it and being able to touch it–as long as it doesn’t bite … That’s my favorite part.”

In the days following her passing, a shrine was created in front of Bezanson’s office on the third floor of O’Connor Hall. Members of the Santa Clara community have left several responses to the prompt, “Michelle taught me…” alongside flowers and other messages.

A memorial service for Dr. Bezanson will be held on Saturday, April 27 at 11:30 a.m. in the Music Recital Hall on campus.