Dr. James Ruppert
Professor of English, Emeritus
WHEREAS Dr. James Ruppert served the University of Alaska Fairbanks with distinction in teaching, research and service 1988 to 2019; and
WHEREAS Dr. Ruppert taught in the departments of English and Alaska Native Studies for much of his career at UAF, and thus carried a double set of responsibilities, including serving as chair of Alaska Native Studies for many years; and he created several new classes in both departments; and he helped create the film studies minor and taught classes in the topic; and he was always willing to teach whatever was needed; and he received the 2006-2007 College of Liberal Arts Outstanding Teacher Award; and
WHEREAS Dr. Ruppert published six books, including “Meditation in Contemporary Native American Literature,” a preeminent work in Native American literary studies; and he published more than fifty articles and book chapters and dozens of book reviews and poems; and
WHEREAS Dr. Ruppert is an internationally recognized scholar who has received three Fulbright lectureships and two stipends from the National Endowment for the Humanities; and he was named the UA President’s Professor of English and Alaska Native Studies for a five-year span;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the University of Alaska Fairbanks expresses its deep appreciation to Dr. James Ruppert for his extensive contributions to the State of Alaska and to the University; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University of Alaska Fairbanks, in further recognition of the invaluable services rendered by Dr. Ruppert and as evidence of the University’s desire that his identification with the University be maintained, hereby confers upon Dr. James Ruppert the title of Professor of English, Emeritus; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution be appropriately engrossed and signed by the Chancellor as further evidence of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ esteem and respect for Dr. James Ruppert, and conveyed to Dr. Ruppert on this twenty-third day of May, 2020.