Large, in-person celebrations have been few and far between in the Department of History since the onset of Covid. It was with tremendous pleasure, therefore, that professors, staff, students, and friends of the department gathered on Monday, May 16, to honor the six faculty members who have retired during the pandemic: George Behlmer, Pat Ebrey, John Findlay, Mary O’Neil, Bob Stacey, and Robin Chapman Stacey.
The occasion provided an evening of good food, genial company, and fond memories, as well as a welcome opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, past and present, face-to-face. But the undisputed highlight of the event was the opportunity to salute these six distinguished historians for their service to the University of Washington. Taken together, this cohort has compiled some truly impressive statistics:
- 210 years of combined service to the University of Washington
- 21 dissertations supervised
- 3 Distinguished Teaching Awards
- 31 books published
- 3 Guggenheim Awards and numerous other prestigious fellowships
- 2 Department Chairs
- 2 Directors of Undergraduate Studies
- 1 Director of Graduate Studies
- 1 Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
Beyond the bare numbers, these faculty have been standout contributors to all aspects of academic life, devoting countless hours to service and teaching. They have sat on editorial boards and edited journals; served on committees within the department and across the university; and held leadership roles in professional organizations. Most important of all, they have educated thousands of undergraduate students--inspiring more than a few of these students to follow in their footsteps.
To say that their presence will be missed in the corridors and classrooms of Smith Hall would be an understatement. Congratulations George, Pat, John, Mary, Bob, and Robin. We thank you for your many gifts to us, and wish you all the best in the years to come!