A student from Bowdoin College, aged 20, Qingyang “K” Zhan, was discovered dead in a parking lot near the college campus in Maine on Sunday. This has led to an ongoing investigation into her death.
Zhan, who hailed from Shanghai, China, had been living in the United States since 2019. She was found early in the morning in Topsham, Maine, at a storage site for construction equipment being used for the current replacement of the Frank J. Woods Bridge.
As reported by Police Chief Marc Hagan, the police were alerted to the scene at 2 Main Street, where officers pronounced Zhan dead.
President of Bowdoin College, Safa Zaki, confirmed Zhan’s death, leaving the college community in shock. Zhan, a double major in government and legal studies and Asian studies, had become a respected member of the college community since joining in the fall of 2021. Prior to this, she had graduated from Athenian School in California and had attended Oxnard College.
President Zaki offered a heartfelt tribute to Zhan in a letter to the college community, highlighting her involvement in the Asian Student Association and her role in founding the college’s Chinese Students Association. Zhan also served as a learning assistant for Asian Studies in the Baldwin Center for Teaching and Learning, and showcased her musical abilities as a member of the Bowdoin Concert Band, playing both the piano and guitar.
Faculty members at Bowdoin remembered Zhan for her charming and engaging demeanor, emphasizing her kindness and warmth. “There really are no adequate words to convey how devastating this loss is for our community,” stated President Zaki, extending his deepest sympathies to Zhan’s family and ensuring the availability of counseling services for students dealing with this tragic loss.
The circumstances surrounding Zhan’s death are being investigated, with her body transported to the local Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy. While the autopsy results are pending, Chief Hagan assures there is no immediate threat to the public.
As the investigation continues, both the college and the larger community await further details regarding Zhan’s death, while cherishing her memory and the positive impact she had on their lives.
Bowdoin College has confirmed that counseling support and communal grieving spaces are available for those affected by Zhan’s untimely passing.
