Professor Roberts to Resign as English Department Head
Nathan Lamar

January 2005 will return one of UMASS Lowell’s finest teachers to the classroom and bring a new head to the English Department.

After twelve years at the top post of the Department, Professor William Roberts will not sign on for a fifth term.  “I’m 64,” said Roberts in a recent interview. “As much as I’ve loved my job, I don’t want to do this forever.  I’m really excited about a full teaching schedule.”

As chair Roberts has had a reduced teaching load during his four terms.  “I came here in ’71 to teach and it will be really great to get back into it.  This is the only college I have ever taught at so it will be a lot easier to get acclimated than if I was brand new, but it will still be weird.  I’m sure it will be taxing at first, but that’s just because I have grown accustomed to my job as head.”

In response to the question of what he would miss, Roberts mused, “As head I have had the wonderful opportunity of advising a large number of students one on one, as well as getting to meet a large number of seniors with their dig forms.  I will still be an active part of the faculty but it will be interesting to not be the chair.  I have loved the new influx of young professors that we have added to the English Department and the way they have gelled with the older, or should I say, more seasoned professors.”

Roberts replacement is unknown until a selection process is completed in early December.  Although Professor Roberts gave no indication as to who would be taking his position, many students speculate it will be long time UML English Professor Melissa Pennell.  “That’s what I’ve heard,” said Senior Lauren Rockvam.  “It doesn’t matter to me, I’m just happy he’s going to be teaching more.  His exquisite ties and professional coiffure are reason alone to take one of his courses.”

Roberts however, is more excited for a new class he is teaching in the spring on American Dialects than making fashion statements.  “I try to keep up with what’s new, but things change so quickly.”

“The focus of my graduate work was contemporary fiction, but what I read then is far from contemporary now,” he chuckled. “I still love to read current novelists, first time novelists.  I don’t know why.  Maybe I just don’t want to be pop-culturally deprived. I love movies and music too; all kinds of music.”

“I tried to be fair,” He responded when asked what he would like to be remembered for as chair.  A well known Grateful Dead fan, the eulogy seemed fitting for the man whom one associate English professor declared, “I would literally take a bullet for that man.”