News of the loss of law student Dylan Simmons

Dear students, faculty and staff,

I am writing today on behalf of the president and provost to forward tragic news about the loss of a student. Dylan Simmons, a third-year law student, has passed away. The following message was sent this afternoon to the Stanford Law School community. Before entering law school, Dylan received a bachelor’s degree in sociology and feminist, gender and sexuality studies and a master’s degree in community health and prevention research in 2017 from Stanford. I know this loss will deeply and personally touch a great many of you, and I would like to express my heartfelt condolences and care. Our counseling staff is reaching out now to the law school and many other places where Dylan was known and loved. In a place devoted to helping students gain knowledge to inform a lifetime of purpose and contribution, there may be no news more difficult to bear than this. Please keep in mind these university resources available to everyone, both in-person and remotely, through the weekend and thereafter.

Sincerely,

Susie Brubaker-Cole
Vice Provost for Student Affairs

Dear SLS community,

I am writing this afternoon with difficult news. It is with great sorrow that I report to you that the family of Dylan Simmons, a third-year Stanford law student, has confirmed that he was found deceased in a campus residence last night.

We are terribly saddened by this news, and extend our deepest sympathies and thoughts to Dylan’s family, fellow students and friends.

Dylan was enrolled in my constitutional law class as a first-year student and stood out to me as a brilliant, compassionate soul with a passion for justice who never hesitated to give time to causes and endeavors that would make our community and world better for all.

We know this news is shocking and upsetting. While we will each grieve this loss in different ways, we can also draw on the resources of a skilled and dedicated group of professionals on campus to help cope with this tragedy.

The Office of Student Affairs will convene a gathering in the student lounge at 4:30 p.m. today. Staff from CAPS, the Graduate Life Office and the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life will be on hand. More gatherings will be planned in the days ahead as we all process this tragic loss. The Kirkwood Moot Court Semi-Finals, scheduled for 4 p.m. today, is postponed.

I encourage all of you to take care of yourselves and one another.

Please remember that there is a broad network of support services available across our community for those affected by this loss.

https://grieving.stanford.edu/how-get-help

Counseling and Psychological Services offers crisis counseling for urgent needs. Walk-in appointments are available. Clinicians are always on call, even after hours, at 650-723-3785. You can also reach SLS Counselor Dr. Liz Chaney at lchaney@stanford.edu.

The Graduate Life Office is available during office hours at 650-736-7078, or 24/7 at 650-723-8222, pager ID number 25085.

The Bridge Peer Counseling Center offers counseling by trained students 24/7 at 650-723-3392.

The Office for Religious and Spiritual Life offers spiritual guidance for students. Call 650-723-1762 or visit the Round Room at Memorial Church.

The Faculty Staff Help Center can provide support to faculty or staff.

Sincerely,

Jenny S. Martinez
Richard E. Lang Professor of Law and Dean of Stanford Law School