Karen L. Laughlin, PhD
Karen L. Laughlin, PhD
Karen L. Laughlin, PhD, an extraordinary educator and devoted mother and grandmother died unexpectedly of natural causes at her home in Tallahassee, Fla., on May 4, 2020.
Karen was born in Westfield, N.Y., on Dec. 4, 1950, the daughter of Herbert Laughlin, M.D. and Martha (Yeoman) Laughlin.
Karen, a former Miss Westfield, graduated from Westfield Academy and Central School as the valedictorian of the Class of 1968.
Dr. Laughlin received her Bachelor of Arts from Duke University and spent a semester abroad in Aix-en-Provence, France. After graduating, she returned to France on a Fulbright Fellowship that enabled her to teach English at a high school in Limoges. She then went to Canada and earned her Master of Arts and Ph.D. in Comparative Literature at the University of Toronto.
At the time of her death, Dr. Laughlin was the Dean of Undergraduate Studies at Florida State University. This is a position she held for the past 17 years, always as an influential, tireless, and dedicated educator who, for almost four decades, helped define the very nature of an undergraduate education earned by countless FSU students. Prior to accepting the position of Dean of Undergraduate Studies, Karen served as chair of several Faculty Senate Committees, including both the Undergraduate and Graduate Policy Committees, as well as the President of the FSU Faculty Senate in 2000-2002.
Karen came to FSU in 1982 and held a joint appointment in English and Humanities for several years. Dean Laughlin was instrumental in establishing many programs to further student engagement on campus and to ensure every student found their home at Florida State University.
Karen was the past president of the International Taoist Tai Chi Association. She was instrumental in the local, national, and international Tai Chi organizations and was dedicated to sharing her expertise by establishing learning centers, demonstrating, and lecturing on the ancient art of Taoist Tai Chi. She served as the Director of the Tallahassee Tai Chi Center and extensively traveled around the world to lead lectures and demonstrations.
Dr. Laughlin is survived by a daughter, Claire Dennison; granddaughter, Jordyn; and grandson, Kylen. She is further survived by her two brothers: Paul Laughlin, M.D. (Christie) of Georgia and Van Laughlin (Debra) of Florida; a beloved niece, RoseMarie Laughlin; and dearest nephews: Maxwell Laughlin and Seth Laughlin.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and nephew, Joshua Laughlin.
Inurnment will be held at a future date in Westfield, New York.