Honoring a Legacy of History, Scholarship, and Teaching

The Susan Deeds Memorial Fund

The Susan Deeds Memorial Fund for History Scholarship and Research honors the life and legacy of an extraordinary historian, teacher, mentor, colleague, and friend. In honor of Dr. Deeds’ memory, please join us in establishing this fund to support exemplary history students and to support faculty research.

Give in Honor of Dr. Deeds’ Legacy

Please join us in celebrating Dr. Deeds' legacy at NAU by making a gift in her honor.

It is only fitting that we honor the life and scholarly contributions of Dr. Deeds here at NAU. Our ultimate goal is to raise $25,000 to establish an endowed scholarship that will benefit history students and faculty for years to come. Until we reach that goal, we are committed to awarding the scholarship annually, ensuring that Dr. Deeds’ legacy makes an impact on our community right away.

A Legacy of Exemplary Teaching and Research

Dr. Susan Deeds joined the faculty of the history department at Northern Arizona University (NAU) in 1985, where she spent the rest of an incredibly successful and impactful academic career spanning decades. Amongst many scholarly achievements, she published her book Defiance & Deference in Mexico’s Colonial North: Indians under Spanish rule in Nueva Vizcaya (2003 University of Texas Press) and became the principal editor of 5 editions of the best-selling textbook on Mexico, Oxford University’s A Course on Mexican History. She was known for her diligent archival research, critical analytical approach and strong writing skills, traits she also developed in her students. 

It was in the classroom that Susan perhaps made her biggest impact, where she was known as a tough, but fair teacher who was passionate about Latin American History and genuinely cared about her students. She welcomed them into her office and into her home, where she nurtured them professionally and personally, and was recognized with several major teaching awards over the years. She left an indelible mark on thousands of students who studied Latin American history under her guidance here at NAU. Susan was also an active contributor to many professional associations and academic journals and was a longtime dedicated board member of the Americas Research Network and the Rocky Mountain Council for Latin American Studies.

Dr. Deeds retired from NAU in 2010, though she continued her academic pursuits based out of her home in Mexico City, which became a cherished gathering place for many scholars and students over her years spent there.

Those Who Carry Her Memory Forward

Dr. Deeds is survived by her children, Ellen Oaksmith (husband Stan), Gabriela Deeds (Ajay) & Colin Deeds (wife Michelle), her six grandchildren Torin, Max, Grace, Caden, Amia & Maya, her sisters Beth (husband Chris) Christoff & Kay McClymont, brother Ted (wife Paula) McClymont, sister in law Sherry McClymont, and her many colleagues and former students who cared deeply for her.