Dear Members of the Georgetown University Class of 2020:
With a heavy heart, we write today to share the sad news that a member of your class, Melanie Diaz, tragically died from injuries sustained in an apartment fire in Silver Spring, Maryland on February 18, 2023.
The University is in touch with Melanie’s family, and we are offering any support we can provide during this difficult time. A Memorial Mass celebrating the life of Melanie Diaz will be held at 2:00pm Saturday, February 25, in Dahlgren Chapel. Friends, family, and classmates of Melanie are all welcome to attend. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated in Florida at the home parish of Melanie’s family.
Originally from Florida, Melanie graduated from the Walsh School of Foreign Service with a BSFS in Culture & Politics and a minor in Environmental Studies, with a focus on environmental justice and equity. She was an active member of the Georgetown Scholars Program, Community Scholars Program, and served as a New Student Orientation coordinator. After graduation, Melanie worked as a Program Assistant for the Energy and Environment Program at the Aspen Institute in Washington, DC.
Melanie is remembered as a dedicated student, friend and deeply valued member of the Georgetown community.
Professor Randall Amster, a teaching professor and co-director of the Environmental Studies program, shared the following reflection on Melanie:
“Melanie was a wonderful student and person, and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to work with her during her time at Georgetown. We were in multiple classes together, and she always brought forth a remarkable combination of open-minded inquiry and strongly held principles to each one. Her culminating capstone for the Environmental Studies minor focused on cultivating ‘a better understanding of just how interconnected our personal experiences are to our homes, nature, and each other.’ May we all continue the pursuit of these deep interconnections in her memory, as we strive toward a more just and sustainable world for everyone and at all levels.”
Professor Cynthia Wei from SFS’ Science, Technology and International Affairs program shared how Melanie:
“…cared deeply about how environmental problems would affect people, and she aspired to help people gain the resources and perspectives to be better equipped to manage these challenges. She enrolled in my course on Environmental Writing for the Public because she was committed to providing important environmental information that people could use and that could help move society in a positive direction. She also cared about providing such information in accessible and equitable ways. Melanie had a wonderful way of emphasizing hopeful and positive perspectives not only in her own writing, but also in her classmates’ writing as well. Her feedback was always kind and encouraging. The caring and hopeful perspectives she added made her a greatly valued member of our class, Georgetown, and any community she was part of. She will be greatly missed.”
We realize how difficult this news is for members of your class and all those who knew Melanie. Please keep Melanie and her family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely,
Julia Farr
Executive Director, Georgetown University Alumni Association
Eleanor JB Daugherty, Ed.D.
Vice President for Student Affairs
Rev. Mark Bosco, S.J., Ph.D.
Vice President for Mission and Ministry