History & Art History » News

Ph.D. Student Profiled in New Yorker

Susie — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 17:15:27 +0000

One of our doctoral students, Rebecca Erbelding, is profiled in an article in this week’s New Yorker (March 17, 2008) concerning her work as an archivist at the U. S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the museum’s acquisition of a newly discovered album of photographs taken at Auschwitz in 1944. The article is titled “Picturing Auschwitz” and is written by Alec Wilkinson. Becky completed her MA with us last year and is now finishing up her first year as a part-time student in our Ph.D. program.

Robert Hawkes

admin — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 17:33:48 +0000

On Tuesday, March 4, the department lost a beloved former colleague, Dr. Robert T. Hawkes. Bob taught U.S. history at Mason for 37 years, retiring in 2006. He was one of the most popular teachers on campus, resulting both from his skill as an instructor and his extraordinary efforts to reach out to individual students to encourage their intellectual development. When he retired he left a long trace of students who lives were changed by his influence. As a colleague he was a trusted mentor and friend, valued by all for his wisdom and sense of humor. His passing is a great loss to the department and the Mason community.

The department is establishing the Robert T. Hawkes Professorship in Bob’s honor. The purpose of the professorship is to encourage excellence in undergraduate teaching and foster closer relations between faculty and individual students–in other words, to express a continued commitment to the things Bob valued most. If you would like to contribute to this effort, please go to give.gmu.edu and indicate in the “comments” section that you would like your contribution to go towards the Hawkes professorship. Or, write a check to “GMU Foundation” and write “Hawkes professorship” in the subject line. Please send checks to Heidi A. Bruce, Director of Development & Alumni Affairs, College of Humanities & Social Sciences 4400 University Drive, MS 3A3, Fairfax, VA 22030.

Roy Rosenzweig

admin — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 04:23:55 +0000

This year we are mourning the loss of one of our colleagues, Roy Rosenzweig. Roy was a longtime leader in our department and the founder of the Center for History and New Media at George Mason University. He died on October 11, 2007, after a year-long battle with lung cancer. We are greatly saddened by his passing. He was a brilliant scholar as well as a loyal friend; his contributions to our department are immeasurable. It’s difficult to imagine our group without him, yet we will move forward and attempt to honor his memory by carrying on his work—and by doing so with the spirit of graciousness and generosity that Roy embodied. There is a wonderfully moving and growing tribute at Thanks, Roy where colleagues, friends, and family are sharing their favorite Roy stories. An American Historical Association/Center for History and New Media Prize has been established in Roy’s honor, and we have just begun to raise funds to support this effort. Those interested in contributing to this prize can send a check to GMU Foundation, Inc., 4400 University Drive, MS 1A3, Fairfax, VA 22030 (please indicate that the gift is for the AHA/CHNM Rosenzweig Prize).