Celebrate the life of Jill Wrigley

The UMBC campus and the Baltimore area would not be what it is today without the nourishment and cultivation offered by food justice leader, educator, and interdisciplinary advisor Jill Wrigley. UMBC is mourning our loss of this incredible woman and celebrating her legacy tomorrow, Friday October from 12-1pm in The Garden, one of the incredible places she brought to life during her time with us.

Please read the campus announcement below for more information.

Dear members of the UMBC community,

Jill Wrigley, who served the UMBC community as a faculty member and mentor to student activists, passed away on Wednesday, October 5 after battling cancer. Jill was a passionate advocate who worked tirelessly to connect students to themes of social justice and food sustainability issues through her work on campus and across Baltimore City.

Jill joined UMBC in 2012 as an instructor in the Interdisciplinary Studies program, where she quickly earned a reputation as a thoughtful, compassionate, and conscientious community leader who inspired many students through her work and experiences. Most notably, in 2014, Jill worked with students and partners on campus to establish UMBC's first community garden. Under Jill's guidance, the campus expanded its food sustainability and justice initiatives to include a permaculture food forest and climate garden.

In celebration of Jill's life and the foundational role she played in student involvement and advocacy, we invite faculty, staff, and students to join us for a moment of reflection and sharing tomorrow, Friday, October 14, at noon in the UMBC Garden.

A memorial service for Jill will take place on Saturday, October 15, at 11 a.m. at St. Bartholemew's Church, 4711 Edmondson Ave., Baltimore, MD 21229. To learn more about Jill's life and her impact on UMBC and the broader community, please take a moment to read her obituary in the Baltimore Sun. Jill's family sincerely thanks all of you for your expressions of kindness and sympathy during their time of bereavement.

Photo by Sarah Miller