Lucas Wooster, a 32-year-old Ph.D. candidate in horticulture at Cornell, died unexpectedly early Sunday morning in the town of Ithaca, according to the University.

Police do not suspect that Wooster’s death was related to foul play or illness, University Deputy Spokesperson Simeon Moss ’73 stated in an e-mail. New York State Police, who are investigating the matter, were unavailable for comment last night.

Wooster, 32, was scheduled to receive his doctoral degree this spring. As a student in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Wooster studied the selection of urban trees for drought tolerance, according to the University.

“Lucas was a valued and engaged member of our campus community, and he will be sorely missed,” Graduate School Dean Alison Power said in a statement. “We extend our heart-felt condolences to his family and friends.”

He was also actively involved with Cornell’s Public Service Center, coordinating the Graduate Student School Outreach Project for the last four years.

Under Wooster’s leadership, GRASSHOPR designed and delivered more than 100 mini courses to schools in Ithaca and surrounding communities, according to Public Service Center Executive Director Leonardo J. Vargas-Méndez.

“[We] are going to miss Lucas very much,” Vargas-Méndez wrote in an e-mail to the PSC community yesterday. “We have lost a dedicated colleague, a staff member, an engaged scholar and friend.

The University is planning, in coordination with Wooster’s family, a public memorial service, which will be held on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. in the One World Room of Anabel Taylor Hall.

Wooster’s is the third student death within the past two weeks and the fifth student death this semester. University administrators and health officials have not announced or publicized any specific actions being taken in response to the deaths aside from the array of mental health and counseling services that Gannett offers.

“It's been a very hard time for our campus,” said Sharon Dittman, Gannett’s associate director for community relations. She urged students seeking support to contact Gannett’s counseling and Psychological Services at (607) 255-5208.