Spring Break
A departing legacy
To students' dismay, Professors Abramson and Jones are laving Brandeis
by Shana D. Lebowitz
Associate Editor
Features | 5/20/08
Posted online at 6:46 PM EST on 5/19/08
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Hattenbach, a politics major, describes the course as "the best class I've taken at Brandeis." Abramson, he says, is the "reason why I'm considering going to law school" after graduation.
Looking back on the University seminar "American Autobiographies," she took with Prof. Jacqueline Jones (HIST) as a first-year, Suman Sridhar '09 says she didn't even recognize the remarkable improvement in her writing skills until the class had ended.
"It's really hard to take her class without growing as a student," Sridhar says.
Next semester, Abramson and Jones will leave Brandeis to take positions at the University of Texas at Austin. Professor Abramson will be teaching in the University of Texas School of Law, and Professor Jones will be teaching in the history department of the university. For many students, the married couple's departure represents the loss of two brilliant analytical minds with the ability to spark passionate curiosity.
An "electrifying" role model
Abramson joined the Brandeis politics department in 1979 after teaching for one year at Wellesley College while completing his Ph.D. thesis. While working at Wellesley, he met Jones, a history professor at the college.
Short and slight, with tufts of gray hair, Abramson speaks slowly, premeditating and then reflecting on each sentence. His air of intellectual experience comes through in almost every conversation.
Abramson describes his teaching career with the same awe and admiration that his students use when speaking about him. He says the most fulfilling moments in his teaching career involve experiencing students' revelations about the material they study. "Some of my favorite memories of teaching students over the years have to do with watching the light go on when they suddenly saw something new in their politics," Abramson said.
Suddenly, they're "engaged, paying attention," he explains.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Howard Jeruchimowitz
posted 5/20/08 @ 1:18 PM EST
As a proud alum of Brandeis ('94), I read this article with much appreciation and heart-felt admiration for Professor Abramson. I reflect fondly back on my years at Brandeis and want to publicly thanks Professor Abramson for his years of tireless service to this gret tinstitution and more, imporantly, for inspiring me intellectually as a student and in my professional career. (Continued…)
danie
posted 6/19/08 @ 11:34 PM EST
I Laved brandeis too.
Don Zinman '98
posted 7/12/08 @ 6:23 AM EST
This is a big loss for Brandeis. I took two classes with Professor Abramson and two with Professor Jones. They are both fine teachers and scholars. I am delighted to see them going to my graduate school alma mater, UT-Austin. (Continued…)
doron '85
posted 7/18/08 @ 12:07 PM EST
I took Con. Law with Prof. Abramson and despite the cruel, yet justified "C" I received (did not prepare adequately for exams, stroll in 30 minutes late for class), I found Abramson to be one of nuggets Brandeis has to offer. (Continued…)
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