New History Professor Joins to Replace Crawley

BY LINDLEY ESTES

The University of Mary Washington’s history department recently hired Will Mackintosh as a replacement for Professor William Crawley.

Crawley, who announced his retirement from the University last summer, will end his 40-year tenure at the close of the semester.

Mackintosh received his PhD at the University of Michigan and has taught for several higher learning institutions. He is a specialist in early national and antebellum American history.

However, due to recent budget cuts, the history department is only able to hire Mackintosh for a year. As an adjunct professor, Mackintosh will not advise students or senior theses.

“This means the rest of the faculty will have a few more advisees and senior theses spread out. He will not be engaging in department service. It would be unfair to burden him with it since this position is only for one year,” department chair Dr. Jeffrey McClurken said.

Mackintosh will be taking over three survey history courses and a senior seminar of national America during his first semester at UMW. He will teach newly offered courses in his area of expertise during the spring semester of 2011.

“It will be tough to fill Dr. Crawley’s shoes,” said McClurken, “but [Mackintosh] is a bright, smart, funny guy.”

Crawley has been an integral member of the UMW community throughout his time tenure. Crawley was granted the College’s annual Grellet C. Simpson Award for outstanding teaching in 1994. The class of 2005 chose Crawley as the recipient of the Mary W. Pinschmidt Award for the professor who has impacted students’ lives the most.

He has also served as the UMW historian of the college, a replacement for which has not yet been named. In October of 2008 he published “University of Mary Washington: A Centennial History,” the definitive book on the history of UMW.

“I’ve had the honor of having 3 classes with Dr. Crawley, including one this semester,” senior history major Lauren Greider said. “From the stories I’ve heard from professors and students, I know Crawley has done a lot for this school and will be sorely missed.”

Greider mentioned Crawley’s work with historic preservation, founding the Great Lives lecture series and working with alumni to raise money.

The history department chose Mackintosh out of over 100 applicants. During the hiring process they interviewed 10 contenders at the American History Association’s national conference in San Diego and brought the three most qualified applicants to campus.

“[Mackintosh] is great,” Allyson Poska, professor of history, said. “I’m thrilled with the decision…We’re all incredibly excited to have him here.”

McClurken also expressed enthusiasm for the choice, calling Mackintosh “a good fit for the school.”