Burger lecture focuses on medieval, early modern lit
The CU-Boulder English Department will host the first ever Annual Doug Burger Lecture in Medieval and Early Modern Literature on Tuesday, March 10, to honor and recognize retired professor Doug Burger’s remarkable achievements and contributions throughout his years with the university. The event takes place in the British Studies Room, Norlin Library (M549) with a reception at 4 p.m. and talk at 5 p.m.
The first in the series of annual lectures features Professor David Aers, whose talk, “Langland’s Reformations,” explores one of the grand narratives of modernity — the Reformation — tracing the concerns about the church that William Langland raises in his late-14th-century poem, Piers Plowman, forward to the work of John Milton.
Aers is a professor of English and Religious Studies and Historical Theology at Duke University. He is the most prominent and provocative scholar of Piers Plowman, as well as an inspiring teacher, who won the Distinguished Teaching Award at Duke University in 1998.
Katie Little, associate professor in the English Department, initially conceived of the idea for the lecture series honoring Doug Burger after being struck by the great affection and admiration expressed by many of her colleagues. As a teacher of medieval literature herself, she knows how difficult it can be to introduce literature from the distant past.
Doug Burger has been an extraordinary colleague, a magnificent teacher, a role model, and a dear friend to the department. We hope his many students and other English alumni will join us in honoring Doug’s achievements and his contributions to the study of literature here at CU-Boulder.”She also noticed a yearning for more intellectual community among both colleagues and students and thought that the most appropriate way to express the spirit of intellectual community was to create an event honoring this beloved teacher. “This event will pay tribute to Doug Burger and provide an opportunity for us to come together to celebrate learning,” she says.
Burger is one of the department’s most distinguished and inspiring teachers. He began teaching at CU in 1965 and continued even after his retirement in 2009. As one colleague has written: “No faculty member on campus has touched more student lives than Doug Burger.”
Throughout his career, Burger has taught a broad range of courses. With a PhD from Lehigh University, he was hired as a specialist in Old English. Since 2000, he has taught in the field of medieval literature, medieval history, Shakespeare, literary analysis, fantasy literature, and the works of J.R.R. Tolkien.
He has been widely honored for his teaching and his service. He was a President’s Teaching Scholar from 1989 to 2009. He won the BFA Teaching Award, the SOAR Teaching Award, and the CAPRA Teaching Award (from the residence halls).
His influence has moved well beyond the classroom. Burger served as director of undergraduate studies for 15 years, guiding students through their courses, and his service to the department has been recognized with the BFA Service Award and the Arts and Sciences Advising Award in 1983.
“Doug Burger has been an extraordinary colleague, a magnificent teacher, a role model, and a dear friend to the department. We hope his many students and other English alumni will join us in honoring Doug’s achievements and his contributions to the study of literature here at CU-Boulder,” comments English Chair David Glimp.
Learn more about the lecture series by clicking here. If you would like to make a contribution to support the Doug Burger Lectures in Medieval and Early Modern Literature series, please contact Patrick Zeller at patrick.zeller@colorado.edu or 303-541-1430.
March 3, 2015
Doug Burger
The first in the series of annual lectures features Professor David Aers, whose talk, “Langland’s Reformations,” explores one of the grand narratives of modernity — the Reformation — tracing the concerns about the church that William Langland raises in his late-14th-century poem, Piers Plowman, forward to the work of John Milton.
Aers is a professor of English and Religious Studies and Historical Theology at Duke University. He is the most prominent and provocative scholar of Piers Plowman, as well as an inspiring teacher, who won the Distinguished Teaching Award at Duke University in 1998.
Katie Little, associate professor in the English Department, initially conceived of the idea for the lecture series honoring Doug Burger after being struck by the great affection and admiration expressed by many of her colleagues. As a teacher of medieval literature herself, she knows how difficult it can be to introduce literature from the distant past.
Doug Burger has been an extraordinary colleague, a magnificent teacher, a role model, and a dear friend to the department. We hope his many students and other English alumni will join us in honoring Doug’s achievements and his contributions to the study of literature here at CU-Boulder.”She also noticed a yearning for more intellectual community among both colleagues and students and thought that the most appropriate way to express the spirit of intellectual community was to create an event honoring this beloved teacher. “This event will pay tribute to Doug Burger and provide an opportunity for us to come together to celebrate learning,” she says.
Burger is one of the department’s most distinguished and inspiring teachers. He began teaching at CU in 1965 and continued even after his retirement in 2009. As one colleague has written: “No faculty member on campus has touched more student lives than Doug Burger.”
Throughout his career, Burger has taught a broad range of courses. With a PhD from Lehigh University, he was hired as a specialist in Old English. Since 2000, he has taught in the field of medieval literature, medieval history, Shakespeare, literary analysis, fantasy literature, and the works of J.R.R. Tolkien.
He has been widely honored for his teaching and his service. He was a President’s Teaching Scholar from 1989 to 2009. He won the BFA Teaching Award, the SOAR Teaching Award, and the CAPRA Teaching Award (from the residence halls).
His influence has moved well beyond the classroom. Burger served as director of undergraduate studies for 15 years, guiding students through their courses, and his service to the department has been recognized with the BFA Service Award and the Arts and Sciences Advising Award in 1983.
“Doug Burger has been an extraordinary colleague, a magnificent teacher, a role model, and a dear friend to the department. We hope his many students and other English alumni will join us in honoring Doug’s achievements and his contributions to the study of literature here at CU-Boulder,” comments English Chair David Glimp.
Learn more about the lecture series by clicking here. If you would like to make a contribution to support the Doug Burger Lectures in Medieval and Early Modern Literature series, please contact Patrick Zeller at patrick.zeller@colorado.edu or 303-541-1430.
March 3, 2015