Four Decades of Teaching History

Name: Seymour Mauskopf, Ph.D. Years of Service: 40 Position: Professor of the History of Science Department: Department of History

In 1964, Seymour Mauskopf began teaching the history of science at Duke. Forty years later, Mauskopf still anticipates that first day of the school year when he walks into the classroom to engage and challenge a new group of students.

When Mauskopf began his undergraduate education, his plans were to pursue a degree in chemistry in hopes of becoming a doctor, but that changed when he realized his love for history. "Despite my ability to do well in the sciences, it was history that I found inspiring," he said.

During the 1960s when Mauskopf began his career at Duke, public attitudes toward science had begun to shift. "It was a major period of questioning about scientific progress and objectivity, which made a field like the history of science sound extremely exciting," he said.

Today, he helps encourage students with his passion for history. Mauskopf said he finds great reward in teaching, but often he does not know the influence he has had until much later.

One such story, however, gives him great pleasure. While serving on a committee a few years ago with then provost John Strohbehn, Mauskopf learned about the influence he had on one of the students. At the end of one of their committee meetings, Strohbehn came over to him.

"Strohbehn handed me a card and explained that while attending a dinner in Washington, he was approached by another attendee at the event who introduced himself as a Duke graduate and a previous student of mine," Mauskopf said. "The graduate informed Strohbehn that I had 'turned his life around' and asked that he deliver the card to me as a sign of gratitude. Something I said during class obviously had a major impact on him, and that was very wonderful and rewarding to hear."

Today, Mauskopf still looks forward to being in the classroom.

"I have rarely had a class, all the way back to my first year of teaching, when I didn't think at least one student was brighter than myself, which is challenging and exciting," he said. "Teaching is such a rewarding experience, and I would hate for a day to come when I don't walk into a Duke classroom and feel that same way."