Architecture, Political Science and Friends: beyond just a course

These days of many tragedies, global and local, it seems difficult to share news that strike us short in our tracks. However, the other day, I was struck with news one never hopes to hear. A former student and scholar in the making has unexpectedly passed. Ms. Katherine Bunch Sutton was bright and curious, and an extremely caring young woman. In her undergraduate studies, she and our shared course called 'Architecture of Justice' with intellectual soulmates and friends, Dr. Kathy Powers, Timothy Green, Cory Greenfield - intersected. (https://saap.unm.edu/news-events/2017/05/using-the-past-to-learn-about-the-present-and-guide-the-future.html) These happenings of like minds are what make university life so meaningful and dear, even in days of sorrow, lack of justice and peace. We still come together in hope and desire, to learn from each other how we might better understand last century's horrific history lessons. (Supported in part by UNM School of Architecture and Planning and the dept of Political Science, DAAD) We strive together as a class to do better and seek humility in the efforts of trying. Katherine asked pertinent and probing questions in the summer of 2017. She was moved by the readings and topics still not resolved after decades of reparations, scholarship, policies, memorials and efforts. She cared along the way to support our smallest children that came with us to Germany from New Mexico.

Her compassion and empathy for the class material gave me so much hope. Her insights and sense for justice will be sorrowfully missed. We hope we can do her justice by being able to share her empathy for the course content with many more students at UNM. Your curiosity will be missed but forever celebrated and associated with our class, Katherine.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/abqjournal/name/katherine-bunch-sutton-obituary?id=35350240