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Austin Briggs Celebrates 50 Years on the Hill

Contact: Holly Foster
Phone: (315) 859-4068
September 27, 2007

Austin Briggs, the Hamilton B. Tompkins Professor and Lecturer in English Literature emeritus, is celebrating his 50th year of teaching at Hamilton in 2007. An expert on the work of Irish poet and novelist James Joyce, Briggs has offered a Joyce seminar at Hamilton each fall since his retirement from full-time teaching in 2000. To commemorate his golden jubilee, the English department is sponsoring a day-long symposium on James Joyce as part of Fallcoming 2007 events. As he looks forward to being reunited with former students and colleagues, Briggs recently sat down to recall some of his memories from life on the Hill.

Coming to Hamilton How did a Columbia University Ph.D. end up in Clinton, N.Y.?
Small Liberal Arts College Small classes and the ability to develop relationships with students were selling points in keeping Austin Briggs at Hamilton.
AA Weather As he recalls his 50 years, Austin wants to be remembered for showing students how to connect literature with life.
Significant moments Professor Briggs has seen many changes during his tenure at Hamilton but the arrival of women on the Hill ranks as the most significant.
Successful Teacher What makes a successful teacher? The right temperament and genuinely liking students.
Guidelines for teaching Guidelines for teaching, compliments of George Nesbitt.