The American Academy of Religion is saddened to share that Jill Raitt, former AAR president, passed away on May 27, 2025, in Columbia, Missouri, at the age of 94.
From the obituary:
“Jill was a pioneering scholar, devoted mentor, and lifelong advocate for women in academia. She joined the faculty of the Divinity School at Duke University in 1973 and made history as the first woman to receive tenure in the Divinity School at Duke University. There she championed the rights of women and opened doors for future generations in higher education, especially in ministerial roles. In 1981, Jill was invited by the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri to found a Department of Religious Studies which she did using a grant she was awarded from the Pew Charitable Trusts for $1,400,000.”