The Barometer Online

Issue date: 6/8/07 Section: News

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A memorial service for Elizabeth W. Sulzman, an associate professor in the department of crop and soil science, will be held Monday, June 18 at 2:30 p.m.

The service, to be held in LaSells Stewart Center, we be preceded by a reception - which starts at 2 p.m.

Sulzman, 40, was found in her vehicle on S.W. 35th Street and S.W. Campus way on Sunday afternoon. A 911 call prompted response from OSP and the Corvallis Fire Department. Sulzman was transported to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis where she died just after 5:30 p.m.

Sulzman, a researcher, also taught the crop and soil science 305 class. She was hired specifically for that class because of her "strong interest in teaching and strong teaching skills," said Russell Karow, the department head for crop and soil sciences. The class holds anywhere from 60 to 90 students.

"We would consider it to be one of the flagship courses in the department," Karow said. The class was offered in Fall and Winter terms of the 2006-2007 school year. Sulzman was not currently teaching the class - Karow said she was performing research.

"A lot of her work was spring-time work," Karow said. He described her as extremely dynamic, bubbly, energetic, insightful, enthusiastic, collegial and dedicated.

The preliminary investigation suggested self-ingestion of a chemical substance, according to the OSP press release - which was released Monday.

"The investigation has suggested that it was deliberate," said OSP Lt. Phil Zerzan on Wednesday.

"It came totally as a shock," Karow said.

As of June 13, the autopsy had been completed but OSP is still waiting on toxicology results that may take up to three weeks to process.

"We are really waiting for the Medical Examiner to release the final cause of death," Zerzan said. Information will be released after OSP finishes their investigation and reports on the matter.

Sulzman recieved the 2006 OSU Faculty Teaching Excellence Award. She contributed to many interdisciplinary research teams and "her work touched projects across the country including in the Great Plains and here in Oregon in the H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest," said Thayne Dutson, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences in a written statement.

In terms of the department of crop and soil science, "the faculty are here, we don't close up shop for the summer," Karow said.

"We will need," Karow paused. "We've got other people that in the short-term could teach the class, but we are going to need someone to fill in."

For those who cannot attend the ceremony, memories and short notes can be sent to barbara.j.reed@oregonstate.edu where they will be compiled for the family.

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