Northwestern Student Dies, Death Investigation Underway

EVANSTON, IL — Police are investigating the death of a Northwestern University undergraduate student Sunday in Evanston. Kenzie Krogh, 20, was reportedly taken to Evanston Saint Francis Hospital by some friends around 11 a.m. on Saturday, police said. She was pronounced dead around 9 a.m. on Sunday.

An autopsy was conducted Monday but its results are not expected to be released until toxicology reports are complete. That can take several weeks. Police do not believe foul play was involved in her death.

Krogh, a junior from Durham, North Carolina, studied education and social policy and worked as a research and teaching assistant at the Kellogg School of Management. Krogh attended Apex and Cary high schools before coming to Northwestern, according to an online biography.

Krogh was involved in various campus organizations, including club sports and Greek life, according to an announcement from Dean of Students Todd Adams. She was a member of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority.

The Northwestern Panhellenic Association board sent an email to members expressing its sadness and offering support to members, the Daily Northwestern reported.

Administrators at the Kellogg school described Krogh as "a remarkable young woman who was animated by a deep intellectual curiosity about the social sciences and the arts," WFLD-TV reported. "Her vibrant energy, compassion and kindness will be missed."

Adams said the university is offering support, condolences and counseling services to Krogh's family, friends and the Northwestern community.

"We are a community that supports one another, and we need to take care of ourselves and also each other," he said.

Krogh's family issued the following statement Tuesday:

It is with heavy and grieving hearts that we share the news that our beloved daughter, Kenzie, died Sunday, Feb. 25, 2018 in Evanston, Illinois. Her family was with her and she knew how very deeply she was loved. Kenzie was the light in her parents’ lives, and that light spread to all her family and friends who were lucky enough to have loved her.

Kenzie was a junior at Northwestern University studying sociology applied to business. She had a strong interest in women’s issues, especially in the workforce, and acted on that passion by donating her time working for Lady Parts Justice last year. Kenzie, a Dean’s List student, was an extremely focused person: Even as an undergraduate, she was a teaching assistant for a graduate level course at the Kellogg School of Management and was also already working on an honors thesis. Kenzie had also worked hard to earn a prestigious internship with the international consulting firm Deloitte. Integrity, justice and an incredibly hard work ethic were some of the most important ideals Kenzie lived by.

Kenzie was exceptional in so many ways: In her devotion to her family and friends, her love of animals, and her ability to multi-task and succeed with whatever she put her mind to. Her mind was always reaching to find new avenues of learning and discovery, especially when it came to social issues. Her years at Northwestern University opened up that passion, and her extraordinary professors, mentors, and fellow students gave her the tools, inspiration, and confidence to pursue it. She was greatly anticipating her summer internship with Deloitte in Chicago. The rest of us were greatly anticipating the gifts she would bring to us and whatever parts of the world she touched. Kenzie will be remembered with love, laughter, and joy as we remain thankful to have had her love and presence in our lives.

Kenzie had a deep and rich relationship with a close group of friends and faculty and was loved by all who knew her. Northwestern University was Kenzie’s home: She loved everything about the campus, faculty, and the local town of Evanston. It was exactly where she wanted to be.

The parents and family ask you to respect their privacy during this time of grieving. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating on Kenzie’s behalf to the Chicago Foundation for Women.