Brian Hill, IU Southeast’s first science faculty member, passes away at 80

21st March 2013

NEW ALBANY, IN (March 21, 2013) – As the first science faculty member hired at Indiana University Southeast, W. Brian Hill was considered a trailblazer. Hill, 80, passed away Tuesday, March 19.

Hill was a faculty member at IU Southeast for 39 years, and had the opportunity to touch the lives of hundreds of students. Hired in 1958 as a professor, Hill was instrumental in creating IU Southeast’s chemistry program. He also served as the Chairman of the Division of Natural Sciences from 1973 to 1979. His tenure at IU Southeast also included a turn as the Acting Executive Officer of the campus in 1966.

Brian Hill

Brian Hill

Hill was popular outside of the classroom as well. In fact, he was the first basketball coach for the campus. In 1959 he recruited some of his students to a basketball team. For two years they played games against any teams they could find in nearby towns. Eventually, they joined a group called the Jeffersonville Industrial League that met in the Jeffersonville Field House once a week for games.

“Brian was one of the founders of Natural Sciences and even created many of our first degrees,” said Ben Nassim, Dean of the School of Natural Sciences at IU Southeast. “There are so many students – many leaders in our community – who were taught by Brian.”

Hill’s visitation is from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 21, at Legacy Funeral Center in Jeffersonville. 

Memorial gifts may be made to the Brian Hill Chemistry Scholarship through the IU Southeast Office of Development.

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