Marilyn Ee Remembrance
CSUN: M.A. Sociology (2017); B.A. Art (2012)
The Department of Sociology would like to recognize and remember CSUN alumna, Marilyn Ee, who passed away in her home country of Malaysia in January 2026 after a two-year battle with cancer.
Prior to entering the M.A. program in Sociology, Marilyn earned her B.A. in Art. Dr. David Boyns, who was the graduate coordinator when Marilyn was admitted to the program, remembers her as “a really kind person, very intelligent, and a great artist.” He went onto say “I remember her applying to our M.A. program with perfect grades but no background in sociology – she was an art major. She really thrived in our program, completed a thesis, and earned admission to a PhD program in Criminology.” Marilyn’s academic performance was indeed evidenced by her receiving the CSUN Sociology Department’s Top Graduating Master’s Degree Student (Highest GPA) Award in 2017.
Marilyn was known for creating and sharing witty illustrations and animations with others.
Dr. Lauren McDonald remembers Marilyn “as a kind soul, one of the most pleasant and positive people I’ve ever met. A true joy to be around. One humorous drawing that I remember is of sociological theorists in feline form.” Fellow alumna, Elizabeth Bogumil, recalls Marilyn’s quirky comics of animals, noting “she found a way to carry her training in animation into the social sciences. Through her struggle with cancer, she continued to stay in touch with her friends and build cancer awareness through her public Instagram doctorishduck.” One IG post in particular that stood out to Elizabeth was on Positive Thinking.
Fellow alumna, Karen (Sabbah) Sobelman described Marilyn’s humor as “silent, but deadly… you never expected some of the things she said and they simply cracked me up.” Karen recalls some of the best times she had in graduate school were spent in the statistics lab with Marilyn when no one else was there. “Her calming and goofy presence made the lab my little escape from my stressful job and grad school. After my beloved 18-year-old cat died, Marilyn sent me the most amazing drawing of him on my head while I studied. I still have it.” Alumna Jennifer (Skornik) Dudley also remembers Marilyn as “standing out from other classmates because of her remarkable positivity, humor, and supportiveness. She was always a pleasure to be around. I feel lucky to have known her. Her light was dimmed too soon.”
Marilyn’s positive attitude was matched by her academic accomplishments. Her research interests were focused on community policing, neighborhood level crime analysis, data visualization and social statistics. Dr. Lori Campbell recalls how she spoke often with Marilyn about her interests in teaching and statistics. “She was an incredibly intelligent, talented, and compassionate person, and it was a privilege to know her. Her faith was an important part of who she was, and I trust that she is now at peace. I am deeply saddened by her passing and hold her family in my prayers.” Dr. Ellis Godard similarly supported Marilyn’s interests in statistics, having her as a student in two graduate courses – The Graduate Proseminar and Quantitative Research Methods, before going on to serve as a member of her thesis committee, noting “I was greatly saddened to hear of her passing.”
Marilyn’s thesis titled “Proposition 47: The Aftermath” examined both the intended and unintended consequences of California’s 2014 Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act. Dr. Jerald Schutte, who served as the chairperson of Marilyn’s thesis committee, built a twelve-year mentor relationship with Marilyn, staying in touch after she went onto her doctoral program in Texas. He recalls – “She and I would communicate almost monthly as I listened to, and offered my opinions about her progress, her dissertation, her colleagues, and her committee, in an almost avuncular role. I heard from her in early 2025 in which she was still confident about her survival rate, but more importantly, her desire/need to file her final dissertation. I am truly saddened by the news of her passing and will forever feel as though the academic world has lost what would have been a valuable colleague.”
Dr. Dave Ballard, who also served on Marilyn’s thesis committee, had a message for Marilyn – Merr, thank you for sharing your light in this world, your faith, your caring heart, your ethics. It was our pleasure to get to know you and be inspired by your strength, beliefs, humor, and compassion for others. Sam Houston was a great choice – rich in history and a formal training ground for future scholars. You did well in that choice and at that institution. Please know that you leave behind a legacy – one that impacts the world and demonstrates the humanity you embodied. Thank you, Meer.”
As a student in the Ph.D. program in Criminal Justice at Sam Houston State University, Marilyn was an active scholar, publishing peer-reviewed journal articles in Policing: An International Journal and Crime & Delinquency. She applied for and became a fellow in the CSU Chancellor’s Doctoral Incentive Program (CDIP). The program provides support, funding, and mentorship to doctoral students interested in pursuing faculty careers in the CSU system. Dr. Vickie Jensen, who served as Marilyn’s mentor in the CDIP program, described her as the kind of mentee who was a real delight. “Her enthusiasm and sharp, analytical mind engaged and energized me in a way that reminded me of why I got into Criminology in the first place. She was tenacious in her pursuit of research and an academic’s life, and in her passing we lost a young scholar whose work would have most definitely made a difference. I will miss her and the way she brought out my better scholarly self.”
In closing, Marilyn Ee was a shining light, an artist, a scholar, and a friend to so many in the CSUN community and beyond. She will be greatly missed.
