Former UW Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences Robert Stacey will speak to the graduates of the classes of 2020 and 2021 when they return to campus for the Return to Husky Stadium Graduation Celebration, Sunday, June 12.
Stacey is a veteran of the UW, serving more than three decades in teaching and leadership positions. As dean, he helped the University overcome many of the challenges brought on by the pandemic, including the rapid adaptation to remote learning.
He began his career teaching at Yale University, after receiving his PhD in Medieval Studies there in 1983. He came to the UW in 1988.
Stacey’s pedagogy was celebrated with distinguished teaching awards at both Yale and the UW, and he’s held numerous positions in his UW career including chair of the History and Jewish Studies departments, divisional dean of arts and humanities and of social sciences. He has served on the Faculty Senate and headed the UW’s Advisory Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics. Currently, he’s teaching the UW men’s soccer team about Scottish history, politics and independence in advance of a summer tournament that will be played there.
Stacey is the author of two books, The Road to Judgment: From Custom to Court in Medieval Ireland and Wales (Univ. of Pennsylvania Press, 1994) and Dark Speech: The Performance of Law in Early Ireland (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2007) and a co-author of the textbook, The Making of England to 1399 (Houghton Mifflin, 2000). He has received several literary prizes for his work.
“As a leader, scholar and teacher, Bob has contributed so much to our great public university, particularly during the most difficult years of the pandemic,” said UW President Ana Mari Cauce. “So, it’s incredibly meaningful and fitting that he will address our graduating classes of 2020 and 2021 as they return to campus for the in-person celebration of their degrees that we have been anticipating for so long.”
