AUS CAAD faculty member passes away

John Swanstrom, Assistant Professor in Art and Design at American University of Sharjah (AUS), passed away Wednesday morning, March 4, 2015, at his home on campus.

"It is with deep sadness that I write to inform you that Professor John Swanstrom, who we knew as Jack, passed away this morning at his home on campus," said AUS Interim Provost Kevin Mitchell. "Jack served as an assistant professor in the College of Architecture, Art and Design's Department of Design. He joined AUS at the beginning of the Fall 2002 semester and, since that time, dedicated himself to enhancing the reputation of the college and university through the extraordinary number of student awards that resulted from work done in his film courses," he added.

Provost Mitchell said that the university had lost a committed and engaged faculty member. "Students, alumni and colleagues who knew Jack can take solace in the fact that they had an opportunity to work with someone who cared deeply about his craft and for those around him," he said.

Swanstrom is survived by his wife, Colleen Swanstrom, and stepdaughters Olivia and Genevieve Melkonian.

The university will hold a gathering for a moment of silence in the Main Building Rotunda tomorrow at 12:00 noon to honor Swanstrom's memory.