Honoring Aurelie Sheehan: A Legacy of Teaching, Empathy and Literary Courage

In a 2006 video from the Poetry Center, Aurelie Sheehan reads her piece “Big Truck” — a tale of a woman riding as a passenger in a monster truck around Tucson. Relatable and hilarious, Aurelie drives the listener through the adventure, reading earnestly while sometimes stifling a mischievous grin.

Aurelie Sheehan, professor of creative writing for nearly 24 years and former head of the Department of English at the University of Arizona, died on August 3, 2023. Her husband, Reed Karaim, with additional donations from family, friends, faculty, and former students, established the Department of English Aurelie Sheehan Memorial Scholarship, to support undergraduates and later, as the scholarship fund grows, graduate students who study creative writing. 

TEACHING WITH EMPATHY AND INSIGHT

Aurelie loved teaching and found joy in helping her student writers discover their own style and expression. Her husband, Reed, says this passion is largely what inspired him to set up the scholarship. 

“Nothing made her happier than to see young students find their voice as writers and artists. She also loved working at a public university — that she got a chance to help students from all different backgrounds and walks of life,” Reed said. “To me, it seemed like a fitting way to honor her legacy, by providing some small assistance to students in need — to help them get an opportunity to succeed.”

Reed added, “She was very empathetic and had a gift for understanding when students were struggling or doubting if they belonged. Her door was always open to students; she would reassure them that they were doing well and belonged in the program.” 

Joel Hans participated in one of Aurelie’s micro-fiction workshops. The class was large and more competitive than he anticipated, and he recalls that her insightful class management made all the difference. 

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"It was a more cutthroat environment than a lot of us expected,” Joel recalled. “But Aurelie handled the class with such individual care and kindness to us as writers — the projects we were interested in, and the kind of fiction we wanted to write.” 

At the end of the class, Aurelie gave Joel written feedback in a personal note that he has kept tucked in a frame for the last 10 years. 

“It’s a symbol of the impact she left on me as a writer,” Joel said. “That was a big reason I donated to the scholarship.” 

A FRANCOPHILE AT HEART 

Aurelie’s Irish American father was in the military, serving in France, when she was born. She retained a lifelong affinity for France and eventually went back for a fellowship, and later, personal travel. 

“She spoke French — not well, but better than me,” Reed quipped. “The entire French attitude towards wining, dining, living art, everything — was something she strongly identified with.” 

Unsurprisingly, Aurelie was a voracious reader, always immersed in fiction and poetry. She loved Colm Tóibín, Haruki Murakami, and Claire Keegan, among others, and was a devoted reader of her colleagues’ work as well as her husband’s — a writer in his own right. 

“We were always each other’s first readers and editors,” Reed said. “As I go forward in my writing, I know I’m going to miss her insights because she had a tremendous gift for seeing the truth in any piece of prose and pointing you in the right direction.” 

Aurelie’s impact extended to her colleagues as well. 

Kate Bernheimer, a UArizona professor of English, counted Aurelie as one of her closest friends. She worked closely with Reed to set up the scholarship and says she admired Aurelie’s unique ability to navigate challenges. 

“She was the queen of calm, and her colleagues knew they could rely on her. If we were heading into a difficult situation, she had a way of saying just one sentence and it would alleviate all the anxiety,” Kate said. “She could be so irreverent, too — it never impeded her professionalism — but was like a secret gift she had that brought levity to any situation, no matter how grave it was. Up to my last conversation with her, I can’t believe she is gone.” 

Ander Monson, a UArizona English professor and close friend who worked with Kate to bridge Aurelie’s colleagues and family during her illness, says he feels her absence keenly. 

“I miss her wit and wicked sense of humor, how sometimes you didn’t see how much she saw and how deeply she thought until one of her sentences was hanging around your neck,” Ander said. 

A LEGACY OF COURAGE AND TAKING RISKS 

Aurelie’s gift for encouraging students, helping them navigate their writing, and cultivating confidence is a main component of the scholarship. 

“Aurelie was fiercely invested in centering emerging voices,” Kate said. “Especially those writers who are interested in story narratives related to women’s causes and lived experiences, which could come in any form or style and from any voice.” 

Kate added, “This scholarship is special because, like Aurelie, it won’t reward what is trendy or loudest. A student who is true to herself, yearning to discover her words and determined to strengthen her voice – that’s who will shine.” 

The scholarship has raised enough funds to be fully endowed and will be given each spring. It is dedicated to University of Arizona creative writing majors — especially those who are interested in issues confronted by women and girls. 

Hannah Palmisano was named as the first scholarship recipient. 

“I didn’t know Aurelie, but her legacy precedes her. She seems like such an amazing person, and I regret I didn’t get the chance to meet her,” Hannah said. “She is going to live on in everyone’s memories in all the best ways — in the stories we tell about her and her stories that we get to share with everyone. The scholarship that I’m so grateful to be honored by … is just another way that she’s giving back.” 

Reflecting on Aurelie’s dedication to her craft and students, Ander emphasized the impact she will have on the literary landscape of UArizona. 

"The scholarship is a legacy of Aurelie’s commitment to young writers and their stories, those they know how to tell and especially those they haven’t figured out how to tell yet,” Ander said. “I’m feeling confident that her name will continue to mean a great deal in the history of the MFA program, the creative writing major, the Department of English, and the University of Arizona.”

You can donate to the Aurelie Sheehan Memorial Scholarship.

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This story was included in the spring 2024 Developments newsletter.