Missing student Shireen Ahsan’s body recovered

We’ve been informed today that the body of Shireen Agha Ahsan has been found and identified. Shireen, 19, a Kresge College sophomore, had been missing since January 18 when she was swept into the ocean from a rock near Bonny Doon Beach.

Words cannot express the sorrow we feel as a campus community. We want to extend our deepest personal condolences to her family, friends, and classmates.

A memorial gathering that had been planned for tonight at Kresge Town Hall will be rescheduled.

Shireen’s body was found Monday evening on a beach at Wilder Ranch State Park about five miles from where she was lost last week. The search continues for Ahmad Solaiman Nourzaie, a College Nine senior, missing after the same tragic accident.

Shireen was from Palo Alto. She was well loved and admired as a role model on campus and in life. At Kresge, she was active in her college community as an academic assistant with the core course and with the Muslim Student Association. She hadn’t chosen a major yet but was interested in computer science. She will be deeply missed.

Her family has created a Facebook page in her memory.

We also want to extend support to all students, faculty, and staff who may need it. Tragic news can be difficult to process. We encourage students who wish to speak with someone to contact Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at (831) 459-2628.  Faculty and staff may wish to call for information on the Employee Assistance Program at (831) 459-3573.