It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Darlene “Dee” McManus, a beloved member and leader of Graduate Women in Science (GWIS), who died peacefully on July 3, 2025, at the age of 79, surrounded by her family. Dee leaves behind a remarkable legacy of service, leadership, and advocacy for women in science.

A longtime member of Xi Chapter (now Twin Cities Chapter), Dee joined GWIS in the mid-1980s and quickly became a pillar of the organization. From her earliest days at the chapter level, she was an energetic and engaged leader, eventually serving as Chapter President or Liaison. At the national level, she held nearly every major leadership role: Vice President (1998–99), President-Elect (1999–2000), and National President (2000–01). She served on the GWIS Board of Directors from 2002 to 2007, where she spearheaded the organization’s first strategic plan and contributed to the Policies and Procedures Manual that shaped the modern governance of GWIS.

Dee served as National Editor for 15 years (1993–2007), producing three elegant, informative newsletters per year. She also assumed the role of Webmaster in 2003, quietly modernizing the organization’s digital presence. In 2008, Dee became GWIS’s first Executive Director, a role she held until 2015. Her tenure was transformative. She brought financial stability, expanded visibility, and developed materials that gave GWIS a professional polish. She also launched successful outreach efforts to senior members, generating support that led to new fellowship funds and donations that continue to benefit the organization today.

When needed, Dee stepped into essential interim roles—such as serving as National Treasurer in 2011–12—and fought tirelessly to protect GWIS’s financial integrity, including efforts to recover funds from a mismanaged dues collection system. Her energy, creativity, and determination shaped GWIS into the organization it is today.

In recognition of her many contributions, Dee was honored with the GWIS Meritorious Service Award in 2016. Even after her formal leadership ended, she remained a guiding force. In 2022, she took the initiative to write and publish the Hundredth-Year History of SDE-GWIS, a culminating tribute to the organization’s first century.

Beyond her work with GWIS, Dee’s professional path reflected her passion for science and leadership. Born June 16, 1946, in Columbus, Montana, she pursued a B.S. in microbiology and immunology and later earned an M.B.A. in nonprofit finance. She began her career as a lab technician working on diabetes and birth control research and eventually held leadership roles in academia, nonprofits, and health sciences—including as Director of Administration at the Lillehei Heart Institute.

Dee was a force of nature. A fierce feminist from the start, she spent her life pushing boundaries and building systems that worked for everyone. She was also a warm and generous community builder, known to host neighborhood gatherings featuring her famous wild rice soup and popovers. A lifelong learner and certified Master Gardener, Dee approached everything—from GWIS policy to party planning—with purpose and heart.

Dee’s Celebration of Life will take place on August 9, and it will also be available via livestream. Friends and colleagues are invited to submit photos in her memory as part of the event. More about Dee’s Celebration of Life can be found here:  https://epilogg.com/obituary/darlene-marie-mcmanus-st-paul-mn-usa-13880

We invite members of the GWIS community to share memories and reflections as we honor the extraordinary life of Dee McManus.