User:Dintilwen/Howard Berger

Brief Biography

Dr. Howard Berger earned his B.A. in History from George Washington University with Honors and Phi Beta Kappa recognition, and his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Washington. He has been a professor at the College of Idaho since 1982 specializing in American Intellectual History. His regular courses are as follows: "Modern Western Civilization, Introduction to the History of the U.S., History of American Ideas, National Socialism and the Final Solution, America in the 1960s, History of U.S. Foreign Policy, The American Westward Movement, The U.S. since 1945, The American South since 1865, Jewish History, and Modern Russia and the U.S.S.R." Additionally, Dr. Berger has led student study tours to the State of Israel.

Campus Legend

Possibly the most iconic spot at the College of Idaho, "Berger's Bench" is a beautiful little pad of concrete and two wooden benches that have become a favorite endearment of the students and Professor Howard Berger. Dr. Berger originally came to the college only by chance before falling in love with the institution and becoming an integral part of the campus's community where it is difficult to find a senior student who hasn't taken one of his courses.

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Dr. Berger attributes his tenure here at The C of I to pure luck. While at the University of Washington in the early 1980s, he was asked by a colleague to consider filling in for a year. The rest is history. He describes his career at The C of I as “so immensely satisfying, I’ve so loved every year that I’ve been here for the past 25 years.” It is clear that Berger has developed a deep passion for the college and, in turn, the students have reciprocated by developing a deep passion for him.

“I could come up with many moments throughout my career where it just reinforced the affection that I had for this place and the fact that I was lucky enough to wind up here,” says Berger.

And during the fall and spring terms it is impossible not to find Dr. Berger sitting at his trademark bench surrounded by a group of students and faculty. Situated between Hendren Hall and Strahorn, the bench is located at a key junction. He can see “students going to any course on campus, going to eat, going not to eat; I can judge by their walk whether they’re having a good day or a bad day, whether I should call them over and say, ‘What’s the problem?’ if they’re staring downward at the cement.”

To what does Berger attribute his immense success here at The C of I? Berger jokingly says “how bad all the other faculty really are.” In fact he actually attributes his success inside and outside the classroom to telling stories. “What I do in the classroom is tell stories. That is how I see history, how I see my life and how I see all life,” Berger says. “It is a story of heroes and villains, but to me it is hard to look at it as anything other than being part of a plot.”

“What I attribute it to is that students just love to hear good stories, it gives them meaning in their own life when they realize good stories matter and they want their life to be a good story, hopefully with a happy ending.”

When asked how he feels about the recent name change he responds by saying the Albertson family “did more than any other group to keep this college open and flourishing, so the fact that we called it Albertson College is perfectly legitimate.” He also believes that “the school is not the name — the school is the teachers, the students, the life they lead.”

Berger’s summarizes his career at The C of I by saying “Well I’m finishing my first 25 years here so I’m halfway done with my career here at this college. I expect to be teaching here until I’m dead or I develop Alzheimer’s and can’t remember what room I’m supposed to be in.”

Legacy

The College of Idaho announced it will launch the Howard Berger Lecture Series, a lectureship designed to promote greater understanding of Jewish traditions, culture, and philosophy in Idaho and the West. The lecture series is the first step in establishing an endowed chair in Judaic Studies at the College of Idaho which would be the first of its kind in the Intermountain West.

The Howard Berger Lecture Series brings distinguished scholars to the state to discuss topics of Jewish history and to provide awareness of the role of Jewish traditions, culture and philosophy in the West. It honors Dr. Howard Berger, a faculty member at the College of Idaho since 1982 who has influenced countless students to explore themes of human rights, diversity, and social justice through his courses on Jewish history and the Holocaust.

The first scholar to visit Idaho as part of the lecture series will be Rabbi Dr. Richard Freund, an internationally renowned Judaic scholar and historian. Dr. Freund will discuss his research on ancient archeology sites throughout the Middle East at the College of Idaho on May 11 in Langroise Hall at 7:30 pm.

The Berger lectureship was made possible thanks to donations by foundations and individuals. The Craig H. Neilsen Foundation contributed a total of $150,000 to support the lectureship, including the initial and culminating gifts to complete fundraising for it. Ray H. Neilsen, chairman of the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation and chairman of Ameristar Casinos, Inc., is one of Dr. Berger’s former students.

“Dr. Berger introduced his students to cultures and concepts that we hardly knew about living in Idaho. This lectureship, inspired by Dr. Berger’s career, is most appropriate, and I am honored to be one of the supporters,” Neilsen said.

The Howard Berger Lecture Series is the first step in establishing an endowed chair in Judaic Studies at The College of Idaho. When fully funded, the chair will support a permanent faculty position at the college and provide courses on Jewish history and texts, public seminars and lectures, and study abroad opportunities.

Founded in 1891, the College of Idaho is the state’s oldest, private liberal arts college. It has a century-old tradition of educating some of the most accomplished graduates in Idaho, including seven Rhodes Scholars, three Marshall Scholars, and another ten Truman and Goldwater Scholars. The College is located on a beautiful campus in Caldwell, Idaho.

External links

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