It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Dr. Carolyn L. Kessler, SP, Professor Emerita in the Department of Bicultural-Bilingual Studies at UTSA, who died on Friday, July 7, 2023, in Terre
Haute, Indiana. She was 91-years-old.
Dr. Kessler was an early faculty member of UTSA and worked here from 1975 – 1998; she also served as Director of the Bicultural-Bilingual Studies Division from 1978-1979. She inspired generations of scholars and teachers and remained connected
to both the field (TESOL - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) and her mentees until the day she passed. Throughout the course of her life, she taught for nearly 50 years, primarily at the university level, and was an expert in the field of second
language education. She also taught high school French and chemistry for 11 years. In her role as a professor in COEHD, she utilized her experience in linguistics to teach students earning the M.A. degree in Bicultural-Bilingual Studies.
Attributing her success to her strong educational foundation and strong support from teachers and her parents, Dr. Kessler became involved in her profession because she always loved teaching and felt it was a special calling in her life. In 1971, Dr. Kessler
earned a Ph.D. in Linguistics from Georgetown University where she was honored as a University Fellow. She was a member of the Sisters of Providence of St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, and belonged to the congregation since 1954.
Dr. Kessler was the author of numerous publications, including
Literacy con Cariño: A Story of Migrant Children’s Success (co-authored with fellow UTSA faculty members Curtis Hayes and student Robert Bahruth, 1998), chronicling a group of bilingual students and their journey to English literacy through literacy
in their first language. Dr. Kessler was also the co-founder of the TexTESOL II chapter of TexTESOL, which proudly awards a scholarship to TESOL students in her name.
Following her retirement from UTSA in 1998, Dr. Kessler went on to work in the field of ESL, including time teaching English to refugees in South Florida.
Funeral services for Dr. Kessler will take place on Monday, July 17, 2023, and Tuesday, July 18, 2023, in the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (address:
1 Sisters of Providence Road, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, IN 47876).
A wake will take place from 2:30-4:30 p.m., on Monday, July 17. Mass of Christian burial will take place at 11 a.m., on Tuesday, July 18.
Memorial contributions may be made in honor of Dr. Kessler to the Sisters
of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.
Norma Jean Morales
Administrative Associate I
The University of Texas at San Antonio
College of Education and Human Development | Office of the Dean
One UTSA Circle, MB 3.304
San Antonio, Texas 78249
O: 210.458.4370
F: 210.458.4487
norma.morales@utsa.edu