An accomplished theater artist and DePaul assistant professor Julia Neary died Saturday morning after a long battle with liver and colon cancer, the Theater School announced yesterday. She was 50 years old.

Neary was with the university for more than 14 years starting as an adjunct faculty member and then spent the last four as an assistant professor of acting and movement. Neary was a student herself at The Theatre School, graduating in 1990 with a BFA in Acting. She continued to receive graduate level credit at the University of Utah in the school’s Integrated Movement Studies program.

The Theatre School will dedicate their 2014-15 season to Neary to “honor her spirit of collaboration, dedication, and passion for great work.”

“Julia brought many extraordinary qualities to The Theatre School — her expertise, her talent, her sense of humor, and her deep care for and dedication to each and every one of her students.” The Theatre School Dean John Culbert said. “She will be deeply missed.”

According to The Theatre School, Neary “worked as a professional actor, writer, choreographer, producer, designer, and director in Chicago for over twenty years” with television credits including “’Early Edition’, ‘The Untouchables’, ‘The Break Up’, ‘Black Days’, ‘Samaritan’, ‘Four/Four’, ‘Jack Slash’, ‘Etchings’, ‘Thanks Mom!’, and ‘I Think Not.’”

Neary’s family in conjunction with the school has announced the formation of the Julia Neary Scholarship Fund to continue her legacy as well as help support Theatre School students.

Contributions can be mailed to the attention of Dean John Culbert, The Theatre School at DePaul University, 2350 North Racine Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614. Gifts can be made out to The Theatre School at DePaul University, noting the Julia Neary Memorial Scholarship Fund.

A public memorial will be held at The Theatre School building on Jan. 24 at 10 a.m. in the Fullerton Stage Theatre.