Northwestern University is asking for the public’s help after longtime professor Nina Kraus was reported missing earlier this week.

Kraus, 72, a professor in the School of Communication and a widely respected researcher in the field of neuroscience and sound, was last seen Monday morning in Evanston. According to police, she left her home on the 1500 block of Ashland Avenue around 9 a.m. to go for a walk. Her house is about a mile from Northwestern’s campus. She has not been seen since.

Evanston police describe Kraus as five feet four inches tall, weighing about 140 pounds, with long silver hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing long pants and a windbreaker. Authorities added that she is “very fit” and an active walker, but family members became concerned when she did not return. They reported her missing later that day.

In a news release, Northwestern University said it was working closely with law enforcement. Their statement reads: “The Evanston Police Department is leading the search for Professor Kraus, with the Northwestern University Police Department assisting. The University is hopeful that with the community’s help, we can find Professor Kraus and assure her safety.”

Kraus has been a fixture at Northwestern for decades, known for her groundbreaking work studying the biology of sound and how the brain processes it. She has authored numerous academic papers and her work has influenced areas ranging from childhood learning to hearing loss in older adults.

The Evanston Police Department has urged anyone who might have seen Kraus or has information about her whereabouts to come forward. The public can contact investigators at 847-866-5000.

As the search continues, the university community has expressed deep concern. Kraus’s absence is felt not just at Northwestern but across her field, where she is regarded as both a pioneering researcher and a generous mentor.