In Memoriam: Julia Hendrix Miwa

Julia Hendrix Miwa, associate professor of chemistry, passed away on Nov. 11, 2025. She was a committed member of the faculty for 31 years and was consistently a source of reason, inspiration, and strength for students, faculty, and the broader Wellesley College community. A devoted wife and mother whose many interests ranged from the arts to athletics, she consistently exemplified for others how to thrive both professionally and personally.

Julia grew up in Teaneck, N.J., and attended Haverford College. She returned to Teaneck High School to teach chemistry and physics, then went to MIT for her doctorate and to UC Berkeley for post-doctoral research.

One colleague still remembers the content and clarity of the seminar Julia presented during her job interview over 30 years ago. She steadily implemented new methods of ongoing active student involvement in her classes. As a young professor, Julia taught heavily in the organic chemistry laboratory and was instrumental in modernizing its curriculum. As a bio-organic chemist, she was interested in the problem of protein folding. She and her undergraduate research partners made the significant finding that a thioxo peptide they designed adopts a conformation similar to its oxygen analog and that the conformation persists even at elevated temperatures.

Julia was widely admired for her intentional and creative use of analogies to make complex concepts in chemistry both clear and engaging. This clarity, coupled with her patience, calm demeanor, and sense of humor, made her highly sought after in the classroom. Indeed, she was honored in 1997 with the Pinanski Prize for excellence in teaching.

Julia cared deeply about providing pathways and support for all students. This led her to create a version of introductory chemistry at Wellesley—CHEM 105P—specifically for students who had little to no chemistry experience in high school or needed additional quantitative support. It has yielded many successful STEM majors and served as a model for other departments.

Just as she nurtured her many interests, Julia celebrated the multidimensionality of our students, cheering them on at athletic events and hosting game nights. She also served in numerous leadership roles, including as chair of the chemistry department, director of the Fairchild Summer Research Program and the Mentoring in Science program, and serving on the Wellesley Community Children’s Center board, raising funds for the center as its 2023 Boston Marathon runner.

Julia exemplified strength, trustworthiness, and sincerity. She spoke the truth, using her voice to build understanding and catalyze change. Julia’s profound impact on countless lives will continue to inspire and guide us. Her commitment to supporting student scientific growth will continue through the Julia Miwa Chemistry Department Fund to support student research in her honor.