Mildred “Elizabeth” Sanders, professor of government emerita at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, passed away on December 2. She was 81 years old.
Dr. Sanders’ career in academia spanned five decades. Prior to her long tenure with Cornell, she held teaching positions with Auburn University in Alabama, Rice University in Houston, Texas, and the New School for Social Research in New York City, where she chaired the department of political science. In 1992, Dr. Sanders joined the faculty of Cornell’s department of government, where she remained until her retirement in 2019.
As a scholar, Dr. Sanders published extensively on American political development and popular politics. Throughout her career, she authored numerous journal articles and two books, including the award-winning Roots of Reform: Farmers, Workers, and the State, 1877-1917 (University of Chicago Press, 1999). As a result of her academic expertise, she served as president of the history and politics section of the American Political Science Association from 2004-2005.
A native of Athens, Alabama, Dr. Sanders received her bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Auburn University, a master’s degree in international relations from Georgetown University in Washington.D.C., and Ph.D. in American government from Cornell University.