Melinda Joy Seid, a dedicated and much-loved health science professor at Sacramento State, passed away on Jan. 12 after a short battle with cancer.

Seid taught from 1991 to 2003 as a full-time professor and coordinator in health science with expertise in health care administration. Prior to her arrival, Baldini said the health science department almost closed because so few students signed up for the program. She modernized the health program on campus, making it what it is today.

Kinesiology and Health Sciences department chair Fred Baldini said Seid was a caring, involved professor who was greatly respected and admired by staff, students and the community.

“With her leadership, the program quadrupled. She was an outstanding teacher and well respected by students,” Baldini said.

Patty Woodward, assistant professor in kinesiology and health sciences, said Seid was her mentor and served the community as well as she did her students. A tobacco education consultant for the American Cancer Society, Seid started the alumni chapter for health science.

Woodward said Seid traveled extensively, spending time advocating health issues in Cuba, Japan and Hawaii. She also loved going to Disneyland when she had the time.

A chocolate enthusiast, Seid would often pass out the sweets to students during tests, Woodward recalls. Seid felt it helped students from feeling overly stressed during exams.

Trisha Wilkerson, health science graduate, said Seid was first and foremost a wonderful human being who cared deeply about her students and the world around her. She gave her students the precious gift of her time, intelligence, grace and humor.

“Even though I graduated in the spring of 2006, I still received e-mails from her regarding jobs, continuing education and anything else that she though might help students and graduates alike,” Wilkerson said.

Wilkerson said she will be greatly missed by those lucky enough to be her students.

“There are those that teach for a living and those that live to teach. Dr. Seid lived to teach and her passion inspired us all. You knew when you went to class that she would expect nothing but your best and that is what you wanted to give her as a student,” Wilkerson said.

Baldini said Seid integrated serving the community into her program for students in health sciences. She would suggest students to sign up for volunteer work in their areas of interest.

“She was a model professor, scholar and servant,” Baldini said. “It’s difficult to do all three well, but Melinda did.”

Senior health sciences major Tamara Gehlen said Seid’s lectures were always interesting and mixed with funny and entertaining stories. Seid usually used PowerPoint when she lectured, but would include personal stories of how the topic affected her, and she always encouraged her students to share as well.

“She had a big box outside her office filled with books and magazines, free to anyone that came by,” Gehlen said. “She would put things in the box that she thought would be useful to her students.”

Seid tied classroom health related talks to community fundraisers, walks like the Susan G. Komen and farmers markets. Like other teachers in health science, she would send out e-mails for opportunities [is this correct?] in the field from all over the U.S. and various countries.

Senior public health major Marcie MacTarnaghan said Seid was a proponent of trying new things. For instance, MacTarnaghan said she brought samples of all natural and organic foods for the class to try. They did taste test comparisons of soymilk, peanut butter and chocolate cookies.

“Dr. Seid left a lasting impression on me. She taught me that anything could be accomplished if you are willing to put in the time. The fact that she expected such a high level of commitment and excellence from her students made me work twice as hard to impress her,” MacTarnaghan said.

MacTarnaghan said she was a part of a group presentation on the topic of green weddings versus traditional. The group discussed the effects on the environment and the differences in cost. The project required students to go outside of normal Internet research and talk to wedding planners and environmentally friendly growers and distributors.

Karen Parker, community health senior, was told last June she had to have a double mastectomy. Seid was very concerned about her, Parker said. Her advice to Parker was to take time to laugh a lot. At the time, Parker said she could not figure out what there was to laugh about, but took the advice and it helped her get through that rough period of her life.

“She put herself in your shoes,” Parker said.

Jennifer Anne Simpson, health care administration graduate, remembers Seid helping her focus on goals. Simpson said she was like a little kid in a candy shop when it came to deciding her degree. She wanted to try everything out. Seid helping her to scale down her interests so she could focus in one area.

“Dr. Seid met with me and told me to make a plan and come back after I listed ten things I wanted to do,” Simpson said. Simpson said she did not receive support for continuing her education and Seid gave her that confidence plus options on how to use her degree.

Seid wrote Simpson a letter of recommendation to the California Pre-Doctoral Program. She was later accepted into the program.

Simpson said Seid was always able to tell her to set a goal without overstepping her boundaries. She said Seid wanted her students to get involved; she forced you to think.

Dr. Melinda Seid was born on May 29, 1952. She is survived by her husband, Richard, and two brothers. Her husband called her Lindy. A memorial to celebrate her life was held on Jan. 17 at the Campus Commons Clubhouse.

Sally King can be reached at [email protected]