In Loving Memory – Dr. Edith Neumann
Dr. Edith Neumann
(April 1, 1947 – February 17, 2018)
Provost & Chief Academic Officer
Touro University Worldwide
Dr. Edith Neumann led Touro University Worldwide (TUW) as Provost and Professor of Health Sciences. Dr. Neumann received her Ph.D. in Medical Sociology from Boston University, majoring in health care organizations and specializing in program evaluation and needs assessment. She earned a M.Sc. in Industrial Engineering and Management and a B.A in Behavioral Sciences-Psychology, Sociology and Anthropology. In addition, she held a Nursing Degree.
Dr. Neumann was a senior research associate at the Center for Applied Social Sciences at Boston University, Professor of Research at Boston University, and Director of Program Evaluation and Development at the University Affiliated Programs at the Kennedy-Shriver Center (Waltham, MA). She served as a Dean for the School of Health that included the Statewide Nursing program at California State University Dominguez Hills (CSUDH), where she was a Professor of Health Sciences and Director of the Center for Policy Research and Evaluation.
Dr. Neumann was one of the founders of Touro University International (TUI), and part of the team that established TUI, the first regionally accredited fully online university that offered undergraduate, graduate and PhD programs fully online. Dr. Neumann was the founder of the Colleges of Health and Education, where she served as the founding Dean for 9 years, and Vice President for Academic Affairs of TUI until February 2010. Dr. Neumann planned and conducted numerous program evaluations, and need assessments funded by local, state, federal and international agencies. She was involved in numerous programs, such as Healthy Communities for the LA Hispanic Community, and entrepreneurship development for underserved populations.
Dr. Neumann published many papers and book chapters in program evaluation, policy assessment, motivation, stress-burnout in organizations. Many of her publications focused on higher education administration, and high quality learning models that lead to student success. Dr. Neumann was on the editorial board of the Journal of Emergency and Disaster Management, and has received numerous awards, including the Lyle Gibson Excellence in Teaching Award from California State.
In 2012, Dr. Neumann, and the original team of TUI, rejoined Touro and developed Touro University Worldwide (TUW). Dr. Neumann assumed the Academic Affairs role as Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs. Her contributions in TUW since 2012 influenced student growth by 440%, the financial status of the university became strong, and 14 regionally accredited (WSCUC) programs that include Associate, Bachelor, Masters and Doctorate.
Dr. Edith Neumann will be sorely missed by her family, friends and all who were blessed to share in her sphere of influence.
I had the privilege of working with Edith both at CSU and TUI. A beautiful woman who was known for her collegiality. She graciously shared her expertise. My condolences to Yoram and all the family on the passing of their dearest Edith.
Very well credentialed and visionary leader. TUW foundation has been built and will flourish.
Dr. Edith Neumann was an inspirational leader, caring, loving and she was able to put a smile on your face even in the most challenging situations.
She will be greatly missed and I would like to send my deepest sympathy to Dr. Yoram and all the family.
I had heard about her accomplishments and strength before joining TUW, and was a little intimidated at first, but when I met her and worked with her, I found her to be such an amazing person. She lead by setting an example of excellence and by inspiring everyone around her, while at the same time making everyone feel at ease in her presence. She will be missed at TCLA, at TUW, and by her family – mamakom yinachem etchem bitoch shaar aveilei tzion veyerushalayim.
My prayers are with the family during this difficult season of their lives. I am privileged to be one of the educational facilitators to ensure that Dr. Edith Neumann’s educational goals for her beloved Touro University Worldwide continues to grow and flourish. What a wonderful and passionate educator. You will be missed, but your legacy will live on through the educational protocols you have established.
I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Edith Neumann. I would like to express my condolences to Dr. Neumann and all of the family. Dr. Edith Neumann will be missed by all faculty and staff.
Dr. Neumann was a true visionary. She will be sorely missed by her TUW community. I am confidant that we, the administration and faculty of the University, will carry on her legacy and fulfill her vision. Sincere condolences to Dr. Neumann’s friends and family.
My condolences to TUW and to Dr, Neumann. I enjoyed working with Edith during our WSCUC team visit and I know how important her presence was to TUW. I know she will be missed.
I have had the pleasure to work with Dr. Neumann at TUW. I especially liked our talks at the graduations. She always sought me out to say hi and discuss TUW and other areas we shared in common. I will miss her and those talks. I am sending my condolences to her family. She was a bright light at TUW.
Edith was a bright light in the TUW world. Her vibrant, passionate energy lit up the campus! I always looked forward to my meetings with her. I enjoyed her stimulating presence! She truly was unique. I miss her. I offer my sincerest condolences to Yoram and all the family.
My sincere, condolences to her family and family.
I send my deepest condolences , Prayers , and love to the family . May she Rest In Peace.
Condolences to the family, I pray that God will give you Comfort in your time of sorrow.
Through the works of Dr. Neumann, I became part of the TUW family. She is a great communicator. I am blessed on account of Dr. Neumann and I am thankful. She is missed and loved. May God keep and protect her for she has done great works.
I didn’t have the pleasure of knowing Dr. Neumann. However, enrolling in TUW and joining the TUW family was one of the best decisions I ever made. It’s changed my life and my MBA is giving me opportunities I never dreamed I’d have. The professors I’ve had the pleasure of working with are kind and caring. The MBA program is quite an exceptional program, as we don’t meet face to face. Dr. Neumann clearly started something wonderful. Her legacy will live on through all the TUW students who come after me.
My sincere condolences to her family.
My sincerest condolences to Dr. Yoram Neumann, family and colleagues. May God grant you all peace and comfort at this time and during the days to come.
Very sorry to hear this news a person that truly was a light for educators, patients, students and for higher academics.
I was fortunate enough to meet Dr. Neumann once, and her intelligence, sense of humor, and poise were evident. I am blown away by the mark she has left on society, and her contributions to the fields of education, health science, and many others are nothing short of incredible. I wish her family and loved ones all the best during this transition.
My condolences to the family and to the university community. I know her contributions have been appreciated by many.
Edith Neumann was the consummate professional. to this day I pattern much of my academic work on the principles of integrity, rigor, and simple human decency she modeled for us all. We are all better people for knowing Edith. All our love and prayers to Edith’s family and friends. Her memory will forever be a blessing. BH’
Dear Edith embodied the very highest and best ideals of mind, heart, and spirit. I had the great privilege of working with her at Touro University International for six years, and at one point sang for her “Climb Every Mountain”, which she most certainly did, and “You’ll Never Walk Alone” – not even now, as we are with her in spirit and in love. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and all of her loved ones. Steve
Sending my condolences to Dr. Neumann’s family, friends and the TUW community who will miss her deeply. I am grateful for her contributions toward establishing TUW where I am now studying for a masters with the help of incredible professors and dedicated staff.
I am so sorry to hear that one of the people I am grateful for has passed. Because of Dr. Neumann developed Touro University Worldwide (TUW)., I have been able to complete my bachelors degree. My deepest condolences to her friends and family.
I am very sad to hear about the loss of this amazing woman whom I respected, admired and liked! I appreciated her commitment to excellence, her professionalism, her hard work and her high standards. In all my interactions with Dr. Edith Neumann, she was warm, genuine and gracious — a gentle, but powerful woman who knew how to be supportive of other women. TUW and TCLA have lost a bright light and a shining star. When she became the provost of TCLA, where I head the English department, she enriched our curriculum. Though at first I was not happy about revising all my syllabi, ultimately my courses benefited from the structure she imposed. I attended a number of meetings that she led at TUW with my dean, Dr Esther Lowy, obm, who also greatly admired Edith. We were both struck by our provost’s graciousness, her hospitality, and her indomitable energy. After Esther, another formidable woman, died, my college, TCLA, went through a challenging transition. I communicated with Edith a lot during the first two difficult years. She was responsive, supportive, patient and encouraging. I may not have stayed at TCLA had it not been for her. During that period, I published a number of articles and always shared them with Edith. She was never too busy to read them and comment. She was very open about her battle with cancer but she was a valiant warrior and somehow she always managed to answer my texts and emails — even if she noted that it took an extra day because she “just changed treatments.” I will never forget a long meeting I had with her in her office and her pride in the courses taught at TUW, the excellence of the faculty, and the growth and success of the institution. She was also very proud of her family and shared with me how much she loved being a grandmother. To me, Edith embodies the best qualities of a Jewish woman in the tradition of Sarah, Rebecca and Rachel: strength, grace, kindness, selflessness, leadership and self-sacrifice! She had a gentle demeanor, a soft voice, a genuine smile, but tremendous power, force and determination. “Feathery on the surface, but bolts of iron underneath,” a phrase from Virginia Woolf comes to mind. I know that she used every ounce of her strength to be the best she could be and do the most she could do in her work and her family life. A woman of valor in every way! She will be sorely missed! My condolences to Yoram and her family. May her memory be a blessing to all who knew her and loved her.
It was with great sorrow that I learned of Dr. Edith Neumann’s passing. Her influence on my course development has been and will continue to be felt by many students. My deepest condolences to the family.
It’s a very sad day. My condolences to Yoram and the entire family. I cannot imagine how heartbreaking this loss is for you… I have rarely encountered such a strong focus, such a full life, such wisdom. Edith was unstoppable. A force of nature.
What an amazing woman! Her work inspires me to better than I dreamed I could.
My deepest of condolences to the family, friends and her colleagues.
My condolences.
My deepest condolence goes out to Dr. Neumann’s family. I just joined TU.
To the Neuman family, y sincere condolences on your loss. May the memory of your loved one bring smiles to your faces and may the Lord grant peace in your spirits. To her Touro family, Dr. Neumann’s legacy lives on.
My deepest felt condolences goes out to her family and friends.
My sincere condolences to everyone who knew her. Her spirit and love for teaching and learning will live on in the school and in each and everyone of us who have had the privilege of being an extension of her vision for a better world.
My sincere condolences go to the family as to their loss.
I remember many years ago meeting Edith and Yoram…thinking what a great team!
Edith was always there for me and made me feel special…will miss her!
Kathleen
So sorry to hear of Edith’s passing. She was a true innovator and one of the hardest working people I have ever known. Edith was a role model for me and many women have benefited from her example. She was one of a kind.
My condolences to Yoram and family.
My prayers are with the Neumann family. I am honored and feel privileged to be a current student at TUW. I will do my best to use the knowledge that I receive from this institution to help make the world a better place for others. What a beautiful, and selfless legacy she has left for her family and friends.
My deepest condolences to Neumann family. As a Student beginning my academic year in 2015 at Touro University Worldwide, in the BSW program. Dr. Edith Neumann, personally helped me, showing significant interest in each and every student that needed assistance. Forever, I am indebted to her continued work to carry on and go forward in her honor. Shalom aleichem
Dr. Edith Neumann was a transformational and authentic leader and, as a true great leader, an implementor. The Drs. Neumann Leadership Team was unique and unmatchable.
I had the privilege to work and know Edith. She was an incredible mentor and a very generous and kind person, a true example for all of us. I highly respected and admired Edith and was very fond of her. I will deeply miss her. Edith is a tragic loss to her family and the entire Touro community and to all who knew her. My thoughts and prayers are now with her family.
I would like to convey my deep sympathy and heart felt condolences to Dr. Neumann and their entire family.
Anastasia
My deepest condolences to Dr. Yoram Neumann and family for the loss of their beloved Edith Neumann. I had the privilege to meet Edith and watch her vision and passion for TUW grow to great heights. Even in the toughest times when she was sick, she still worked hard towards her vision and beliefs. She is the epitome of strength and passion for life and learning. May her memory be a blessing. Baruch Dayan Emet.
My deepest condolences to the family of Dr. Newmann, I just started Touro University but I feel like part of the family.
I am very grateful to Edith for opening the door for me to join the Touro/TUI/Trident family in 2007. She was an amazing woman who inspired excellence in the professionals around her. My deepest condolences to all of her family and friends. Edith will be missed by many people but her legacy lives on in the lives of literally 1000’s of people. God bless.
Death is something unavoidable but is very painful when it happens to us. We all wish we could have a medication that could have to raise our loved one back to life. If this is so, Dr. Yoram Neumann will be the first person I will raise my family. Through her effort, I was able to share this message with you.Now to her immediate family, it is my prayer that these words will sole you, knowing very well, Dr. Yoram Neumann is on the side of our Lord Jesus smiling because she left a good legacy not only for her children but of the Globe of which it had benefited me. May this massage comfort all her loved ones.
My sincere condolences go out to her family and friends, may her soul Rest In Peace. ❤️
My condolences to the family. I had the honor of working for the visionary Neumanns with both Touro International University and Touro University Worldwide. Dr. Neumann will be deeply missed.
My sincere condolences to Yoram Neumann and family. Edith was an incredible person who possessed strength, vision, and compassion. Aleha ha-shalom.
I’m at such a loss for words. I can’t believe it’s been around 10 years that I’ve known you and your family. Your family has been so good to my family! I’ll never forget the support, friendship and love you have shown us. The comfort and support you provided my mother when she was going through her battle with cancer.
I will always remember you for your strength, intelligence, but most importantly your warmth.
The picture above is exactly how I want to remember you!
Blessing to you and the rest of the family (Yoram, Roy, Tom, Wei, Natasha and all the grandchildren).
It was a life well lived!
I give my condolences to the family and TUW, her presence will be missed.
I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of my dear friend and colleague Dr. Edith Neumann. I had the distinct pleasure and privilege of working with Edith in several capacities. She always managed to raise the bar of performance even when matters and challenges appeared to be ideal. Her warmth and integrity preceded her and reputation for excellence was respected globally. Dear Yoram, I shall keep good thoughts for you and your family and I will keep our dear Edith in my prayers. My sincerest condolences, Rudy.
Dr. Newman was a distinguished scholar and administrator and a great contributor to Touro. She was a wonderful person who will be missed by all of us. I send my condolences to her family.
My sincere condolences to Dr. Neumann’s family, friends, and colleagues. May she rest in peace forevermore, and may God’s loving presence offer you comfort.
Sincerely,
Laura Lombardi and family
My deepest condolences to the family and TUW. Dr. Neumann was a remarkable person and she will be missed. It was an honor to meet her. I am forever thankful to Dr. Neumann for making it possible for me to earn my doctorate at TUW.
Many blessings to the family,
Patricia Paden
Dr. Neumann was a wonderful woman and she will be missed. She helped me in 2006 select a degree plan and complete my Masters. I am grateful. I am sending my condolences to her family.
This is a great loss. Dr. Neumann was an educator who showed great compassion for students and tremendous visionary leadership with faculty and staff. My condolences to her husband, sons, daughter-in-laws and grandchildren who lit up her life. I always loved sharing pictures of our little ones together on our phones.
I first met Edith and Yoram while visiting Shelia. They were so welcoming and nice they took me on a tour of the lovely campus. From that point on, Edith and I talked as often as we could, like we knew each other all our lives, and I’m 99. My conversations with Edith are going to be missed. Yoram take care of yourself, love Mother Bell
Sincere condolences to Dr. Neumann’s family and the TUW family at large. May Dr. Neumann’s soul rest in perfect peace.
Best,
Abigail
I would like to express my sincere condolences to Yoram, and the TUW staff on the passing of this truly amazing woman. While I did not know Edith long, the time I did know her she was always very kind, very open, and always took time for others. She will be missed.
You will be missed greatly, but I know that as long as you are in our heart we will never live a day without you. So glad I got to meet you!
This is a very sad time. Dr. Edith Neumann will surely be missed. I had the privilege of working with her and her team at Touro University International and at Touro University Worldwide. She is one of the kindest people I have known and a truly remarkable person. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and all of her loved ones.
Dr. Edith Neumann had a light which touched the hearts and souls of others while inspiring and invigorating the minds of those she graced with her wisdom. I am grateful for the experience of knowing her and learning from her. My heartfelt prayers to Dr. Yoram Neumann and family as well as the TUW community.
Dr. Edith Neumann—February 2018
It is with great sorrow that we honor Dr. Edith Neumann who was our leader and guide. As Provost and Chief Academic Officer of Touro University Worldwide, she successfully led us through countless academic challenges. In our culture, it is common to say to some people, “you think you know everything”; a common cultural way of communication about some people. Believe it or not, Dr. Edith Neumann knows almost everything; she was just “All that”. You have to work with her to know this. Name anything about higher education; she knows them all; why, “She has been there, done them all”. What is unfamiliar to her, she researches it to gain insight, and to share the findings with everyone. She was a great researcher and an avid reader.
She was always calm, logical and reasonable. In times of chaos, she brought calm; in times of desperation, she brought hope; in times of peace, she made it last. She was always fond of saying, “we will make it” when the team is working on projects, where some of the projects seemingly appear impossible.
I am sure, some of you must have been in some workplaces where you fake your behavior to impress the Boss; NO, not this Boss; not Dr. Edith Neumann; you do not need to fake your behavior as she takes you for what you are. She always look for the opportunity to make things better instead of dwelling on the “here and now”, especially when thing were not working well. She seldom misses a critical moment when certain things must be done. You know those moments when you miss out on things and say to yourself, I wish I knew, I would have done XYZ. Why? Because she had a great foresight and she was strategic in her transactions; she resisted jumping to judgment as the quality of outcomes were very important to her.
Dr. Edith Neumann was a courageous and innovative leader, who was adaptable; conscientious; energetic; and full of joy with a lot of energy to show it. She was practical in finding solutions to problems. She was sincere, ambitious, resourceful, and diligent; in fact an irreproachable leader. Through her temperance and fortitude, and in collaboration with the Chancellor and CEO, Dr. Yoram Neumann, the university maintained focus toward long term prosperity.
She was an authentic and fearless leader with a great vision; she was decisive and always optimistic about the future of the university. Above all, she was very respectful to everyone and never undermined anyone. She was resilient and diplomatic. She was very passionate about higher education; she had a real love for education and the people in it, including the students, faculty, staff and family members. With her educational and administrative genius, she collaborated with Chancellor Dr. Yoram Neumann in their efforts to contribute to the advancement of knowledge and good practices of online learning. Together, they created what is popularly known today as the Robust Learning Model (RLM). As a result of this intellectual contribution to the literature, they won Internationally Recognized “Gold Hermes Creative Award.” Their work together is a great contribution to the sum of human knowledge. At work, you don’t see her approaching and you pretend to be doing the correct thing; because you are always doing the correct thing; as she made you to love your job. She was transparent in all of her transactions with everyone and had a great belief in the fundamental goodness of humanity. She was what you saw and without any hidden agenda. In a certain movie, one actor said, “We no play hanky pankie”; there was no hanky pinkie in her world and in transactions with everyone. She was a leader with great integrity and respect for others. She has left behind an awesome responsibility and challenge of how to continue with her work.
She left behind a repertoire of knowledge that everyone can benefit from. It is hoped that we can possibly mimic her ways as her ways can help to add to the different ways some people and organizations are promoting peace; because in addition to her work in higher education, she contributed to the promotion of peace, harmony and happiness for every one of us including our family members. We have a fervent hope that we can at least try in the hope that our contributions can also count; we can make it count.
As we look back at Dr. Edith Neumann’s life with admiration and love, we honor her indelible legacy; it is a legacy of hope; a legacy of inspiration; a legacy of happiness and a legacy of joy.
Godwin Igein, Ph.D
Periodically I visit the TUW site to see what’s new but today I was deeply saddened to see that Dr. Edith Neumann had passed away. As one of the first graduates of the PsyD program at TUW, Dr. Neumann became one of my advocates and I’ll never forget what a source of encouragement she was. With any new program, there are hurdles to overcome but Dr. Edith Neumann was always helping to clear the way forward and investing in the success of the students. She definitely leaves a legacy of excellence for us to model but for me she also leaves a legacy of compassion that I will always cherish. To the Neumann Family, friends and faculty of TUW, I send my deepest condolences for the loss of this very special lady.
To start off, there are no words and not enough words to express my love, respect and admiration for Dr. Edith Neumann.. Her numerous academic accomplishments are only eclipsed by her warmth and love for life and especially her family. In the time that I have known her, she has managed everything with poise, grace and determination. I look up to her as a role model of not just being an administrator, but as also a person who lives life in gratitude and with zest. I hope all of us whom she has touched in our lives will also be positive agents of change in the lives of others, like she did for us. In closing. there was one day when I was leaving her office that we were commenting on the mountains of work that needed to be done and also managing the various challenges on the horizon for the school. As we were parting, I joked with her by saying that “life is only worth living if there is a challenge…its what keeps us on our toes”. As we parted, I saw a small sly smile drawn on her face and a slight chuckle at my comment. That is how I wish to remember her. Thank you again for everything and may your name and deeds will always be etched in our overflowing hearts and our selfless actions. Salamat po!
I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the family and friends of Dr. Neumann. BDE.
My friend and my colleague, Dr. Edith Neumann is finally resting from teaching, nurturing and sharing her love with so many of us. She always had the ability to make everyone feel as though no other person existed in the world except the one in her presence at that very moment. Given that, it makes sense that no one person truly knew all of the moving parts of this wonderful woman. It seems that each of us possess a piece of the entire puzzle that made up the whole of Dr. Edith Neumann. Embedded in my piece of Dr. Edith’s puzzle are the things I will truly miss about her. I will miss her smile, our numerous conversations about anything and everything, the way she tapped my hand to calm me in a LOT of meetings, and the way she gently touched my arm when she wanted something, even though I could never say “no” with or without the gentle touch. I am not out of sweet memories about my friend and colleague, but I keep finding myself taking time to pause, reflect and cherish the memories that consume my thoughts as I type. I am sure that these memories will continuously cause the lump to build in my throat as it is now, but during these times, I will always be able to quote her famous words that “All will be okay.” Because she was a faithful friend and colleague, I believe all will be okay. I pray that her family, friends and colleagues believe, and know, that all will be okay because we have Dr. Edith’s memories to help us get through this difficult time. May Dr. Edith’s soul rest in peace.
Shelia
Dr. Edith Neumann was one of a kind friend and leader. She inspired her colleagues through her selfless work and contribution to academe.She always spoke fondly of her grandchildren and family. She stood tall and strong for her many years of suffering, never complaining or feeling sorry for herself. She will always be remembered as someone who made a difference in peoples’ lives, a true friend and an inspiration. Her legacy lives on!
I am profoundly saddened by the passing of De Neuman. She and I never met in person, but she helped in ways I cannot explain. I was a student at TUW MFT program and when I was diagnosed with cancer in 2016, she reached out to me and have enormous chizuk. It pains me deep in my soiul not only bc if my personal experience with this dreadful illness, but bc if her vitality and enthusiasm that she shared with me, not knowing nor not having any motivation that to see me succeed. What a wonderful soiul. She helped me focus and live in the present. May her neshumah have an Aliyah! Wendy Brandell
My heartfelt condolences to the Touro Family! We can never pay back what Dr. Edith Neumann has done for all of us. If I earned the title of Dr. today without ever setting of foot on a physical campus during my course work it is because of a vision. She was light years ahead of her era, her legacy will endure for ever in our memories, and humanity was blessed by her presence.
Dr. Amar