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Mira Browning arrived at �Ӱ���Ƶ with a quiet determination to become the kind of teacher who could make her students feel seen, heard and valued. 

Through her studies in English and education, and her hands-on work in classrooms, she was already doing just that—combining thoughtful preparation with deep empathy and a genuine desire to connect.

A May 2025 graduate, she died on July 30 after sustaining injuries in an apartment fire, just before beginning her next chapter as a middle school English and language arts teacher in South Carolina. She was 22 years old.

From Flower Mound, Texas, she came to CWRU to pursue her passion for teaching, and stood out among her peers for her hard work, intelligence and the care she showed for her students and classmates. Denise Davis, director of teacher licensure in the College of Arts and Sciences, who worked with Browning and her teacher education cohort, described her as someone who wanted to touch the lives of her students, and make them feel welcome and safe in her classroom.

“Mira’s dream was to become a teacher,” recalled Davis. “As I worked with her during her time at CWRU, I saw these dreams come to fruition. She grew into a wonderful teacher—one of the best I’ve worked with in my 30 plus years.”

Erika Olbricht, a faculty member in the Department of English who worked closely with her during her student teaching semester, echoed the sentiment.

“She cared deeply about creating the kind of inclusive, supportive classroom she didn’t always experience herself in high school … she would have been such an excellent teacher—and indeed, was so during her short time in the classroom,” Olbricht said.

That care and concern for her students extended to her peers, as well. Jose Fontanez (CWR ‘25), a classmate of Browning’s in both English and education, described her as a reliable classmate and friend who you could feel comfortable reaching out to.

“Mira was a willing helper and an open person,” he recalled. “Somebody that you could walk up to before or after class and say, ‘hey, I don’t get this, what did you think about it?’ and she would be a great reference and resource.”

Kurt Koenigsberger, her academic advisor in the Department of English, guided her through several courses, including an independent study in the book arts, the letterpress, and English language arts teaching. He recalled her joy in blending media—illustration, performance, design—to deepen the experience of literary texts. 

“Mira was particularly adept at making connections and bringing other media in to illuminate the literature she was reading and sharing with her fellow seminar members,” he said.

Though she stood out for her work in the classroom—both as a student and a teacher—she was also known for her sense of humor, easy-going personality and infectious laugh.

“She was a joker,” remembered Fontanez. “She had great comedic timing and a big, healthy laugh—she really enjoyed herself and her classmates.”

Outside academics, her life was no less vibrant. In addition to being a talented artist and a black belt in karate, she was also a competitive horseback rider. At CWRU, she helped revive the university’s equestrian team as vice president, going above and beyond to help recruit new members to the club and resume their participation in intercollegiate competition. 

“She had a passion for teaching matched only by her love for riding,” Koenigsberger said. “Mira will be remembered for her fierce intelligence, gentle humor and the way she carried her passion into every space she entered—whether the classroom, the print lab or the riding ring.”

Funeral services are to be held at 4 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 8, at the Flower Mound Family Funeral Home (3550 Firewheel Drive, Flower Mound, Texas).

Students who would like support during this time are encouraged to contact University Health and Counseling Services at 216.368.5872. This line is staffed by a counselor 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Faculty and staff can access counseling at any time by calling AllOne Health (formerly IMPACT Solutions) at 1.800.227.6007.