Julia Rux

It is with great sadness that we share the loss of Dr. Julia M. Rux, a dedicated educator, advocate, and world traveler, who passed away on February 26, 2025, in Cuenca, Ecuador, at the age of 82.

Born on February 1, 1943, in South Bend, Indiana, Julia was a force to be reckoned with and found her passion for learning and teaching at an early age. She graduated from John Adams High School before earning her Bachelor's degree from Hanover College and a Master's from the University of Wisconsin. She received a Ph.D. in Human Development, Individual and Family Studies - Gerontology from Penn State Great Valley in 1976.

Julia is survived by her niece Jennifer Morales-Reckseit and Jennifer's wife Phoebe Morales-Reckseit of Panama, as well as thousands of grieving friends and colleagues around the globe. Her loss sends a ripple of sadness through so many lives, a testament to her ability to make and nurture authentic and enduring friendships.

Julia's career as an educator spanned decades and continents. Most recently, she was a faculty member at Georgia Perimeter College, Georgia State University. She taught through the Department of Defense schools and in higher education institutions around the world. Julia led many study abroad programs including to Spain and Semester at Sea. In 2014, she was honored with a Fulbright Scholar appointment to Ecuador-a country she grew to love and where she chose to spend her final years packing her social calendar with all her favorite things including time with friends and continued travel.

As a published researcher, Julia improved the lives of others with significant contributions to the fields of psychology, sociology, anthropology and particularly gerontology. Julia was a pioneer in service-learning encouraging students to do everything from comforting infants born addicted to drugs to working with elderly memory care patients. She inspired others to engage with the world meaningfully by modeling that behavior, often volunteering her time alongside her students and lending her incredible intellect to local nonprofit groups including the Atlanta Women's Center and the Association of Women in Psychology. Her most enduring legacy is the perpetuation of her work by former students and mentees in the fields of education, medicine, social services, and nonprofits.

Julia embraced life with curiosity and enthusiasm. She loved traveling and immersing herself in new cultures, always eager to connect with people from diverse backgrounds. A passionate advocate for women's rights, she supported women's organizations worldwide including in her adopted country of Ecuador. Julia practiced yoga avidly and shared its benefits as a yoga instructor both in the U.S. and abroad.

The world is left to carry on Julia's pursuit of academic excellence, her advocacy for those in need, and her passion for life.