UTICA, N.Y. & SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Syracuse University community, along with the broader field of information science, is mourning the loss of Elizabeth “Liz” DuRoss Liddy (G’77, G’88), a trailblazing scholar, educator, mentor, and leader whose career left a profound mark on academia, research, and innovation.
Born and raised in Utica, New York, Liz Liddy discovered her passion for library science in 1975 under unexpected circumstances. When her oldest child started kindergarten, she volunteered to sort books in his school library. Finding joy and purpose in the work, she enrolled in Syracuse University’s master’s degree program in library science the very next day.
That decision set the course for an extraordinary career.
A Relentless Scholar and Innovator
After earning her M.S. in library science, Liddy became a faculty librarian at Onondaga Community College. Yet, her ambitions extended further. In 1982, she broke new ground as the iSchool’s first part-time Ph.D. student, embracing challenges with her personal mantra: “Why not?” rather than “I can’t.”
Liddy completed her Ph.D. in 1988, conducting groundbreaking research in natural language processing (NLP)—a field that would define her career. Even before defending her dissertation, she was already teaching and contributing to a National Science Foundation grant. Her scholarship advanced innovations in information extraction, search, data mining, question-answering, cross-language retrieval, and summarization.
Over her lifetime, she authored more than 110 research articles, led over 70 research projects, and secured eight patents with wide-reaching applications in security, crisis management, business, travel, healthcare, and public utilities. She also co-founded the startup TextWise before establishing the Center for Natural Language Processing, which became a hub for cutting-edge research.
Transformative Leadership at Syracuse
In 2008, Liddy was appointed Dean of Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies (the iSchool), a role in which she transformed both the institution and the lives of its students. During her tenure:
- Undergraduate enrollment grew by 71%, and graduate enrollment increased by 66%.
- She raised over $26 million in research funding.
- She launched New York’s first graduate certificate in data science and established a data analytics minor.
- She expanded entrepreneurial opportunities for students and significantly increased the iSchool’s global reputation.
From 2012 to 2014, Liddy chaired the iSchools Organization, a global consortium that has since grown to nearly 100 member institutions worldwide. She also championed initiatives to increase female representation in IT and information science.
In 2015, she was appointed interim vice chancellor and provost at Syracuse University, where she spearheaded the University’s first Academic Strategic Plan, shaping the institution’s vision for the future. She returned to the iSchool deanship in 2016.
A Mentor and Friend
Liddy’s leadership was defined by compassion and encouragement. Chancellor Kent Syverud remembered her as “a remarkable leader whose influence touched many parts of the University,” noting her “cheerful outlook, entrepreneurial spirit, openness to new ideas, and unwavering faith in people.”
Colleagues and students echo this sentiment. Interim iSchool Dean Jeff Hemsley recalled her mentorship:
“Liz meant a lot to me personally. When I was finishing my Ph.D., she encouraged me to apply for a faculty role here. She always made time when I had questions or ideas. She supported students and colleagues in ways that continue to shape our community.”
Professor Emerita Barbara Kwasnik praised her as both a leader and an educator, saying, “Her classes were challenging, but almost always ranked highest in student evaluations. Her Ph.D. advisees form an honor roll of professional success and national recognition.”
Jeff Rubin, Syracuse University’s Senior Vice President for Digital Transformation, added:
“She inspired generations of students and educators around the globe. She was a true pioneer in natural language processing and an extraordinary advocate for our library science program.”
Family and Legacy
Above all her professional accomplishments, Liz cherished her role as a mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She is survived by her children: John (Jen) Liddy, Suzanne (Mike) Terry, and Jennifer Liddy (Tony Sereno); four grandsons: Cormac Terry, Nolan Terry, Owen Gette, and Jack Liddy; and three brothers: Jim (Cynthia) DuRoss, Gil DuRoss (Maria Sabatini), and Frank (Liz) DuRoss.
She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Margaret DuRoss, and her sister, Margaret (Peggy) Ashton.
A visitation will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 30, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at St. Ann Catholic Church, 3535 Park Road, Charlotte, North Carolina. Burial will take place at Forest Lawn East Cemetery in Matthews, North Carolina.
An Enduring Impact
Liz Liddy’s life was defined by curiosity, perseverance, innovation, and compassion. She turned a volunteer opportunity in a school library into a distinguished career that advanced technology, transformed education, and inspired countless individuals.
Her legacy lives on in her family, her students, her colleagues, and in the institutions she helped build. She will be remembered not only as a pioneering academic leader but also as a mentor, friend, and advocate who believed in the power of possibility.
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