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Classics chairman Henderson named dean ad interim of arts and sciences
By David J. Craig
Jeffrey Henderson knew he had a terrific dissertation topic as a graduate
student at Harvard in the early 1970s -- a full and honest look at the
works of fifth-century B.C. Greek comic dramatists. Western translations
since the Renaissance had toned down or weeded out the bawdy jokes that
salt the plays of Aristophanes and others, and no scholar had ever seriously
examined the more colorful aspects of these works.
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Jeffrey Henderson Photo by Kalman Zabarsky |
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Yet, "my advisors strongly discouraged me from pursuing the subject,"
says Henderson, a CAS professor of classical studies and chairman of the
department. "They were concerned that I wouldn't get a job or be
able to publish it." To the contrary, Henderson landed a teaching
position at Yale right out of Harvard, and in 1975 Yale published The
Maculate Muse: Obscene Language in Attic Comedy, which became a standard
reference book and established him as one of the nation's foremost classical
scholars.
His scholarship continues to garner national acclaim. Earlier this year,
Henderson received the Charles J. Goodwin Award from the American Philological
Association, a professional organization for classical studies, for his
editing of a four-volume edition of plays by Aristophanes. The new translations
were published by the Harvard University Press Loeb Classical Library.
One critic praised Henderson for putting the plays in plain English, capturing
the frankness of the original, and doing "a better job with the original
tone."
Beginning July 1, BU will look to Henderson to apply the same vision and
foresight he has demonstrated throughout his scholarly career in his new
role as dean ad interim of the College and Graduate School of Arts and
Sciences. He was appointed, after a two-year external search, to succeed
Dennis Berkey, who has led CAS and GRS since 1987 and concurrently was
provost from 1987 to 1992 and again for the past six years. Henderson
has served as chairman of classical studies since coming to BU in 1991.
Previously, he was chairman of classical studies at the University of
Southern California.
A successful liberal arts program, Henderson says, produces graduates
"who lead examined lives, who are aware of the complexities of the
world and their place in it, and who are easily recognizable as being
generally well-educated people." A liberal arts education, he continues,
"has to be very broad, so that its students know a little bit about
a wide variety of subjects, but also has to give them a depth of knowledge
in a particular concentration.
Not everything learned in college must be vocationally useful; our goal
should be to encourage students to use these four wonderful years that
they have to explore the vast array of different subjects and experiences
and come out of it with an appreciation for how various the world is."
Henderson's primary goal as dean will be to manage the college's resources
in a way that "maximizes our focus on the essential components of
our curriculum with available faculty," he says. "Dean Berkey
has led this college's faculty and shaped the curriculum and research
very well, so I expect there to be continuity in those areas. I also want
to continue to nurture and enrich some of the newer programs, such as
the writing program, the freshman seminar program, the honors program,
and the Core Curriculum, all of which are vital. I also expect to participate
heavily in the University-wide fundraising efforts that are planned, and
I know the faculty here is ready to pitch in on that effort, too."
Henderson also is general editor of the Loeb Classical Library, which
publishes the best known series of Greek and Roman literature.
"A gifted and prolific scholar, a superb teacher, and an accomplished
administrator, Jeff Henderson has mastered every trade in academic life,"
says BU President Jon Westling. "His judgment, informed by long service
to the University and to the broader academic community, is impeccable,
and I look forward to working with him in his new role."
Says Berkey, "Dr. Henderson has demonstrated his abilities to develop
outstanding academic programs and to recruit faculty and graduate students
of the first rank. One need only look at the superb record in placing
our Ph.D. graduates in fine college and university faculty positions to
understand the quality of the graduate program he has built in our classical
studies department. As founding director of the College Honors Program,
he has also demonstrated his ability to organize and lead important college-wide
programs.
"In addition," Berkey adds, "he has a compelling vision
for the liberal arts, strong organizational and interpersonal skills,
and a collegial manner that brings out the best in faculty and students."
As is customary with the appointment of internal candidates to BU deanships,
Henderson was made dean of arts and sciences on an ad interim basis. "I
expect that Dean Henderson's appointment will become permanent after an
initial shakedown cruise, so to speak," says Berkey. "He has
the benefit of knowing the college very well, and of inheriting an excellent
staff already in place in the dean's office. I expect the wisdom of this
appointment to be confirmed early and often."
Berkey, who will continue as provost, says he stepped down as dean to
fully devote his time to "working with BU President Westling and
other senior administrators on the important work of the University's
capital campaign and its continuing academic development."
Henderson, a passionate Red Sox fan and a second baseman in the Eastern
Massachusetts Senior Softball League, lives in Wellesley with his wife,
Patricia Johnson, a CAS assistant professor of classical studies, and
her two sons. He also enjoys playing chess, tennis, and traveling, especially
to Greece and Italy.
26 April 2002
Boston University
Office of University Relations