Notices
The Loyola University Chicago community mourns the loss of Sheridan Gorman, an undergraduate student in the Quinlan School of Business, who was taken from us on March 19.
Sheridan is remembered by her Quinlan faculty for her grace, honesty, and empathy. She brought great curiosity and enthusiasm to her studies, and was highly engaged and supportive of her friends and classmates in and outside of the classroom. “She was a joy to have in class,” said Assistant Professor Sadek Showkat.
Those who knew her remember her joyful spirit, her thoughtful acts of kindness, and the way she consistently showed up for others.
Outside of her studies, Sheridan was a member of Cru, a Christian campus ministry. “She didn’t just say she cared—she lived it,” said Cru Chaplain Kim Johnson. “In the way she showed up for friends, in the way she listened, in the way she gave of herself without needing recognition. She was the kind of person who made the world feel warmer just by being in it."
Services will be held for Sheridan on March 28 in Yorktown, New York. Sheridan’s family has requested that in lieu of sending flowers, donations be made in her name to support Loyola Cru.
Quinlan School of Business will hold a gathering for its students, faculty, and staff to honor and remember Sheridan through reflection and prayer on March 30.
Please keep Sheridan's family, friends, and all those whose lives she touched in your thoughts and prayers.
Student Wellness Services
Wellness Center (773.508.2530), Campus Ministry (773.508.2200), Residence Life (773.508.3300), and Office of the Dean of Students (773.508.8840) staff members are available to assist those in need on an individual basis. Please do not hesitate to reach out to a staff or faculty member if you are in need of services of any kind.
Faculty and Staff Wellness Services
Faculty and staff in need of support can access the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which offers confidential counseling services to all employees and their families at no cost.
The Gormans have asked Loyola to share the following message with our community:
“We have been asked whether this tragedy changes how we view Loyola University Chicago. The answer is absolutely not. Shera and our family love Loyola.
We've also been asked whether students should feel safe there. The answer is yes. Sheridan chose Loyola because she felt at home there. She was happy, she was thriving, and she felt safe in that community. That was our experience as her parents as well.
What happened to Sheridan was not a reflection of the Loyola community. It was the result of a failure outside of it.
We do not want fear to take hold where it doesn't belong. Loyola is a place where young people grow, build friendships, and pursue their futures — just as Sheridan was doing. Our daughter's life should not be reduced to the circumstances of her death. She lived fully at Loyola, and we would want other students to have that same opportunity.
At the same time, we will continue to demand accountability and real change more broadly so that what happened to Sheridan does not happen to another family. Both things can be true: Loyola is a place of opportunity and safety, and there were failures outside the University that must be addressed.”