Faculty Join Esteemed Ranks of Professors Emeriti

Faculty Join Esteemed Ranks of Professors Emeriti

By Lisa Nutting
Rice News Staff

For Rice’s four recently named professors emeriti, taking on their new
titles doesn’t necessarily mean slowing down. Their days ahead, in fact,
will likely be quite busy.

George Burt, professor of theory and composition, will head to Los
Angeles in August to devote full attention to composing music. Harold Hyman,
professor of history, will continue to teach graduate seminars and work on
his research and writing. Samuel Jones, professor of composition and
conducting and founding dean of the Shepherd School of Music, is looking
forward to the next chapter in his life as composer-in-residence of the
Seattle Symphony. And for Paul Pfeiffer, professor of computational and
applied mathematics, life will be business as usual, as he is set to teach
full time next year.

• After 13 years of teaching at Rice, Burt says he has mixed feelings
  about trading his teaching career for composing full time.

“I think that in the long run I’ll miss students [at Rice],” Burt said.
“They’re good, and they’re fun to be around. I’m so used to [teaching] that
it seems strange. But I think I’ll get used to it. ”

Burt, who earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of California
at Berkeley, his master’s at Mills College, and an M.F.A. at Princeton
University, has received numerous grants and honors during his career. He
also trained at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music for three years.
Prior to coming to Rice, Burt held academic positions at the University of
Michigan and Smith College.

He is the author of “The Art of Film Music” and “East of Eden: Climactic
Scene” and composer of numerous concert works, film scores, and documentary
and stage play pieces.

• After 30 years at Rice, Harold Hyman, the William P. Hobby Professor
  of History, who was named professor emeritus in December, has cut back on
  teaching but not on research and writing. He no longer teaches undergraduate
  courses, but is still offering seminars to graduate and Ph.D. students.

“So far it doesn’t seem to be any different,” Hyman said. “I love teaching.
I love being around students. [Becoming a professor emeritus] is a little
like other milestones in life-being born, getting married.”

Hyman, who earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of California
at Los Angeles, and his master’s and Ph.D. from Columbia University, said he
plans to continue his research and writing indefinitely, because, “The only
thing I know is being a historian.”

“[Rice has] been a very good place in almost every way-good students,
good colleagues,” Hyman said. “By and large, the administration encouraged
one to do what one should be doing-teaching and writing-and didn’t intrude.”

• “It’s been a great pleasure and a great honor to have been affiliated
  with Rice-as a faculty member and as an administrator,” said Samuel Jones,
  who noted that helping to formulate and organize the Shepherd School was a
  highlight of his career.

“I have cherished my relationship with my colleagues and students at
Rice and my relationship with the institution,” Jones added. “Obviously I’m
going to miss coming to South Main everyday … the live oaks. I will
certainly carry those principles and ideals with me the rest of the years.”

Jones, who earned a bachelor’s degree at Millsap College and his
master’s and Ph.D. degrees at Eastman School of Music at the University of
Rochester, joined Rice in 1973 when he served for six years as the first
dean of the Shepherd School of Music.

Though Jones will miss Rice, he’s ready to turn to the next chapter in
his life. Though final contractual details are still being arranged, Jones
has been asked by the Seattle Symphony to be its composer-in-residence
starting this fall. Jones said he has long planned to retire from Rice early
enough to “spend considerable time … composing. Now I’ll be able to do
that.”

“I’m definitely looking forward to [full-time composing in Seattle]. I
will miss teaching, my colleagues and students, but I’m looking forward to
devoting my full attention to composing.”

• With 50 years of teaching at Rice under his belt, Paul Pfeiffer, professor
  of computational and applied mathematics, said he plans to continue teaching
  as a professor emeritus as long as he’s able.

Pfeiffer, who became an instructor at Rice in 1947, an assistant professor
in 1952, an associate professor in 1955, and a full professor in 1959,
officially retired in 1988, he said, only to be immediately hired back for
the position he left behind. Since that time, Pfeiffer has been appointed to
the position annually. Again next year Pfeiffer will continue to teach.

“This time next year I’ll be winding down like I am this year,” Pfeiffer
said.

Pfeiffer’s Rice affiliation goes beyond 50 years. He earned his
bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering at Rice, as well
as his Ph.D. in mathematics here. After earning his bachelor’s, Pfeiffer
received a bachelor’s of divinity from the Perkins School of Theology at
Southern Methodist University.

Occasionally, Pfeiffer said, former students stop by his office to say
hi. “Every once in a while someone sticks their head in the door and says,
`I’ve done well, you made a difference.’ When they take the time to do that,
well, you just can’t buy that.”

Pfeiffer credits the backing of his wife and family for his success at
Rice.