Flag Lowered in Memory of Dr. Rachelle Keyserlink
It is with deep respect and sadness that we pause to honour the memory of Â鶹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾ Faculty of Education Professor Rachelle Pharilda Keyserlingk, who sadly passed away on November 16th, 2025. Lovingly described by her colleagues as having quiet strength and a glowing smile, Rachelle had a reputation for being a remarkable educator, administrator, and long-standing contributor to the Faculty and to Â鶹´«Ã½Íøվ’s Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology.
Rachelle’s life was defined by an enduring love of learning and an unwavering commitment to education as a public good. Raised in the farming community of Dover Centre Township, Ontario, she adopted wholesome values that would guide her life: hard work, self-reliance, kindness, intellectual curiosity, and a lively sense of humour. These qualities were evident from a very young age, as one of her elementary school teachers recounted a story of a four-year-old Rachelle standing by the roadside near her home, poised to ask the teacher biking by, "Can I come to school yet? " Her eagerness and persistence became a hallmark of her career.
Rachelle’s academic and professional achievements were extraordinary. After excelling at Ursuline High School and completing her teaching degree at the University of Western Ontario, she embarked on a professional path that combined excellence in teaching with visionary leadership. She became a school principal at the remarkable age of nineteen, later leading a new public high school in Ottawa, and eventually joining Â鶹´«Ã½Íøվ’s Faculty of Education. At Â鶹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾, she served with distinction as Associate Dean of Students until her retirement in 1995, shaping programs, mentoring colleagues, and strengthening the Faculty through her wisdom, objectivity, and deep respect for students and staff alike.
Rachelle also represented the Faculty internationally, travelling to places such as South Africa, China, and Iqaluit, and she embraced every opportunity to learn from other cultures. Despite enduring many years of serious illness, she remained generous in spirit, resilient, and unfailingly kind—greeting caregivers and colleagues alike with a radiant smile and words of gratitude.
Rachelle Keyserlingk leaves a legacy of leadership, compassion, and dedication that continues to inspire us. We honour her today with gratitude and admiration for her service to Â鶹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾ colleagues and students.
