Dr. Anne Lee Madsen, age 74, died unexpectedly in the early morning of May 11, 2020. She was born May 4, 1946 in Provo, Utah to Kenneth and Barbara Madsen. She is survived by her sister, Kay Neumann, and her daughter Sarah Beth Nason. 

Though raised in the Midwest, Dr. Madsen fell in love with the big skies of New Mexico and the sunset glow of the Sandia Mountains, and was proud to call Albuquerque her home. She marveled at the hot air balloons that often floated past her windows and sometimes even landed in her backyard.

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Dr. Anne Madsen

Madsen was a lifelong educator, dedicated to her students at The University of New Mexico, where she served as Associate Dean for the College of Education and Associate Professor of Elementary Education for over 25 years. She received her Ph.D. from Michigan State University in "Curriculum, Teaching, and Education Policy." She focused her career on mathematics education, continuously striving to make math more equitable, accessible, and fun for everyone.  

Madsen taught mathematics education courses around the world while traveling with her daughter Sarah. She taught courses in Bangkok, Thailand; Yokota, Japan; Yokosuka, Japan; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Okinawa, Japan; Taipei, Taiwan; and Manila, Philippines. 

The campus community will join to celebrate her life at a date in the near future when in person gatherings are allowed. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Anne Madsen Memorial Math Scholar Award.