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The academic community is mourning the loss of Barbara F. Freed, professor emeritus of French and applied linguistics at Â鶹´å, who passed away at her home in Philadelphia on March 24, 2026.

A pioneering scholar and educator, Freed was the founding head of Carnegie Mellon’s Department of Modern Languages — now known as Languages, Cultures & Applied Linguistics (LCAL). As its inaugural leader, she helped shape the department’s identity, establishing innovative, research-driven approaches to language instruction that integrated cultural inquiry. She was also among the first women to serve as a department head within the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences and created its first endowed professorship.

Freed’s academic influence extended far beyond campus. A leading figure in the field of second language acquisition, she played a central role in developing study abroad as a major area of scholarly research. 

Before joining Carnegie Mellon in 1990, Freed earned her Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, where she also served as vice dean for Language Instruction.

Alongside her academic career, Freed cultivated a deep engagement with French art and culture, particularly that of the Riviera. Her fascination with Henri Matisse and his collaboration with Sister Jacques-Marie led her to produce the award-winning documentary A Model for Matisse (2005). The film earned international recognition, including the Pierre Salinger Award at the Avignon/New York Film Festival and honors at the International Festival of Films on Art in Montreal. Her broader contributions to French culture were recognized in 2009 when she was named an officier in the Ordre des Palmes Académiques by the French government.

In retirement, Freed continued to travel widely and spent significant time in Villefranche-sur-Mer, where she and her husband, Alan Mittelman, maintained a home. She remained deeply committed to the arts, education and philanthropy, supporting institutions such as the Barnes Foundation and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Her legacy endures in the generations of students and scholars she inspired, the academic programs she built and the enduring bridge she created between language learning and cultural understanding.