Professor Richard “Bill” Brown began his career at Ithaca College in fall 1971, after receiving his undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and a master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Michigan. He saw Ithaca College as a place where he would be rewarded for teaching students, and that “has made all of the difference,” because teaching is his passion. His teaching interests included 19th-century America, U.S. urban history, and the U.S. presidency. He served on the H&S Academic Status Committee for 30 years and participated in IC’s summer orientation for 25 years. He was a longtime history department representative to the library and a member of several library committees. His primary focus was serving students. He especially enjoyed talking to students during advising sessions and in class. Professor Brown plans to continue to live in Ithaca and hopes to continue a project studying 19th-century American political cartoons. In retirement, Brown will most miss being in front of a class, and with students and colleagues. He thanks everyone for the past 35 years, especially his students, for making his career so worthwhile.
