Tuesday, August 29, 2017

The UNCW community is sorry to share the news of yesterday's passing of Dr. Hannah Frank, a faculty member in Film Studies. Hannah joined the Seahawk family in 2016 and, by all accounts, immediately made an impression here as an outstanding scholar and colleague, a supportive, inspiring mentor for her students, and a gracious and fiercely intelligent peer, then friend, to so many. 

Hannah's death was sudden, and her family has shared that it may have been caused by pneumococcal meningitis. After conferring with the New Hanover County Health Department, we want to assure our community that this strain of meningitis is considered non-contagious and that no protection of those contacts of someone diagnosed with pneumococcal meningitis is necessary unless there is an outbreak. We have received no notification from local authorities that there is a public health concern at this time.

Students who are in distress about this sudden loss may contact the Counseling Center (910.962.3746). As always, if you have any health concerns, please contact the Student Health Center (910.962.3280) if you are a student, and your medical provider if you are an employee. 

While there are no service arrangements to share at this time, the Film Studies department will be hosting a celebration of Hannah's life sometime this fall. Details will be posted on the department's website as soon as they are confirmed.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Hannah's husband and family, her wide circle of loving and beloved friends around the world, and the students who will never forget the spirited impact she had on them, though their time together was all too short.