January 23, 2023
Three women pose for a photo. The woman on the left is wearing a black blouse and colorful sari. The woman in the middle is wearing a paisley print dress. The woman on the right is wearing a striped polo shirt, blue jean, and sunglasses.
Padmini Joshi (left) with daughter Nalini (right) and mentor Josephine Chanler (center)

The Department of Mathematics is saddened to learn that Dr. Padmini Joshi (PhD '69) passed away on January 2, 2023, at the age of 95. 

Joshi first came to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1962, to fill a half-time teaching assistantship. After receiving her doctorate from Illinois in 1969, Joshi left to teach at Ball State University. In 2021, Joshi established a UIUC scholarship fund in honor of Dr. Josephine Chanler, who had been Joshi's mentor during her tenure at Illinois.

Joshi's family has established a memorial page. Friends, former colleagues, and other associates of Joshi are encouraged to share memories there.