William Chester Jordan, Dayton-Stockton Professor of History at Princeton University, is a renowned medievalist whose publications range in interest from the Crusades to English constitutional history, gender, economics, Judaism, and church-state relations in the 13th and 14th centuries. He is currently taking his expertise on the road as a ΦBK Visiting Scholar.
Marquette University and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee partnered to host Jordan September 13-14. He gave a public lecture titled “The First Crusade and Jewish Martyrdom” on the Marquette campus. James B. South, Associate Dean for Faculty in the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences and President of Marquette’s ΦBK chapter, reported that the lecture was well attended by administrators, faculty, staff, and especially undergraduate students.
In addition to the public lecture, Jordan met with students at both universities, discussing topics such as the current issue of racism in Medieval Studies, graduate education opportunities in Medieval Studies, and the value of a liberal arts education in today’s economic and political climate.
“One colleague working on a book about Japanese internment camps during World War II remarked to me that she revised part of a chapter due to comments made by Professor Jordan during his talk about the First Crusade,” South said. “So, as hoped, the visit provided a stimulating intellectual experience for the campus community and helped raise the profile of our local Phi Beta Kappa chapter.”
“Much goodwill emerged from the joint sponsorship with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee,” South added. “I expect our chapters to continue collaborating as we try to advance the case for the liberal arts and sciences.”
Learn more about ΦBK’s Visiting Scholar Program at www.pbk.org/VisitingScholars.
William Chester Jordan (center), Dayton-Stockton Professor of History at Princeton University, with students and faculty at Marquette University.