Williams College Welcomes Seven Spring Semester Visiting Professors
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. - Seven visiting professors have joined Williams College faculty for the spring semester.Timothy Benton, the Robert Sterling Clark Visiting Professor of Art History, joins the college from Open University in Milton Keynes, England. He specializes in the history of architecture and design between the Wars, particularly the Swiss/French architect Le Corbusier. Benton is the author of several books in English and French, including "The Villas of Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret 1920-1930" and "The Modernist Home." He has made curatorial contributions to numerous exhibitions, including two major exhibitions at London's Victoria & Albert Museum.
James Hanson, visiting professor of economics, will work with the Center for Development Economics. A renowned economist, he has worked on macroeconomic and financial policy issues at the World Bank for 26 years in South Asia, East Asia, Latin America, and Egypt. He is widely published in the financial sector and economic journals. Prior to joining the World Bank he was a professor at Brown University for 14 years, and received his Ph.D. from Yale University.
Wilberforce Kisamba-Mugerwa is the Class of 1955 Visiting Professor of International Studies. He is currently chair of the National Planning Authority in Uganda and a research associate with Makerere Institute of Social Research. His research interests include land tenure policies, natural resource management, and Agricultural Innovations Systems (AIS). From 1987 to 2004 he was an elected member of the Ugandan Parliament and held various governmental positions, including Minister of Agriculture. He received his Ph.D. from Makerere University, Uganda.
Bruce Miroff, visiting professor of leadership studies. He was chair of the political science department at SUNY-Albany, where he is on the faculty, most recently in 2001 to 2004. His research focuses on the presidency, political leadership, and American political theory and development. He is the author of "Icons of Democracy: American Leaders as Heroes, Aristocrats, Dissenters, and Democrats" and "Pragmatic Illusions: the Presidential Politics of John F. Kennedy." He received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley.
Karen Russell is the Margaret Bundy Scott Visiting Professor of English. She is the author of the award winning "St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves: Stories." Her short stories have appeared in Granta, Zoetrope, and "The Best of American Short Stories." She was featured in New York Magazine's 25 to watch under 25. She received her M.F.A. from Columbia University, where she also taught.
Mark Stoler is the Class of 1948 Distinguished Visiting Lecturer of Leadership Studies. He is an emeritus professor at the University of Vermont and specializes in U.S. military and diplomatic history and World War II. The recipient of several teaching awards, he also participates in numerous military history societies and is the author of many articles and books. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Jane Swift is the Class of 1948 Distinguished Visiting Lecturer of Leadership Studies. She was the first woman governor of Massachusetts. She formerly taught public policy and education policy at Suffolk University, served as National Education Adviser to John McCain, and sits on the board of several public and private companies. She received her B.A. from Trinity College.
