Dr. Marjorie Donker, distinguished and accomplished Professor Emerita in Western’s English Department, passed away on January 16, 2022, in Seattle. Marjorie earned her BA, MA, and PhD in English Literature from the University of Washington, specializing in Shakespeare and in the English Renaissance.
Marjorie joined Western’s English Department in 1967. For the next twenty-eight years until her retirement in 1995, she garnered numerous accolades as an early adopter of student-centered teaching. Marjorie was widely known for her ability to teach challenging material with both passion and enthusiasm. Her large, inspiring courses on Shakespeare were legendary among generations of Western students.
Marjorie’s ground-breaking scholarship on Shakespeare continues to be of great interest and value to Shakespearean scholars and to students of the history of rhetoric. Her book on the English Renaissance, co-authored with English Department colleague Dr. George Muldrow, provided an admirable model of deep scholarly collaboration.
Marjorie was a valued member of Western’s English Department and we cherish her memory. To read more about her life and her many accomplishments, please see Marjorie’s online obituary.
