IU Ph.D. student dies following surgery

Kara Bayless, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Folklore and Ethnomusicology, passed away Saturday because of a blood clot following surgery, said Michael Evans, an associate professor in the School of Journalism.

Bayless attended the annual meetings of the American Folklore Society in Nashville, Tenn., with other members of the folklore department, including Evans and John McDowell, the department chairman.

“Kara has been a bright presence in our community these past four years,” McDowell wrote in an e-mail to the folklore department. “She made her mark as an outstanding student-teacher, winning the prestigious Henry Glassie prize in recognition of her achievement in this domain. ...she will be dearly missed.”

Bayless’s family is planning a funeral in Topeka, Kan., and will have a memorial service in Bloomington in the near future, McDowell said in the letter. The department will also offer a gathering later this week to honor her.

Check idsnews.com for updates.
 
— Bailey Loosemore