Dr. Courtney Shah, a 7-time Jeopardy! champion and longtime history professor at Lower Columbia College, has died at the age of 52. Her death followed a battle with brain cancer, as announced by her daughter, Maya Shaw, via CaringBridge. Despite undergoing radiation and chemotherapy earlier in the year, she transitioned to in-home hospice care before passing away at her home.
Shah gained national prominence in 2021 with a seven-game winning streak on the syndicated quiz show Jeopardy!, subsequently returning for the 2022 Tournament of Champions. Her television success brought widespread visibility to her academic career, which spanned nearly two decades at Lower Columbia College beginning in 2007, where she taught U.S. and World History.
Beyond the classroom, Shah coordinated the institution’s Community Conversations program, authored published works, and served as the keynote speaker during the college’s 90th-anniversary celebration. Her contributions to regional higher education extended into campus leadership and active community engagement.
Lower Columbia College organized a memorial service at the Rose Center for the Arts to honor her dual commitment to rigorous pedagogy and public intellectualism. Institutional tributes highlight her lasting impact on generations of students and her unique ability to bridge academic scholarship with mainstream media entertainment.
