The Penn State Abington community is mourning the loss of Dr. Roy Robson, a professor and leading scholar of Russian history, who died on Monday, January 29.
Dr. Robson joined Abington in 2015 as the division head for Arts and Humanities and professor of history with a special interest in Orthodox Christianity, the University said in a statement. He has written three books and more than two dozen book chapters and journal articles.
“Roy was a dynamic, engaging and inspiring teacher as well as an innovative scholar working across disciplinary lines in history and religious studies. He will be missed as a teacher, scholar and colleague,” Andrew August, interim chancellor, said.
During his career, Robson received numerous fellowships and grants, including four National Endowment for the Humanities fellowships and a Fulbright Fellowship to Finland.
Robson’s 2004 monograph, “Solovki: The Story of Russia Told Through Its Most Remarkable Islands”, was described as an “epic drama of spiritualism and savagery, set in one of the world’s most extreme frontier territorie” by The New Yorker.
His wife, Kim Robson, is the director of choirs and band on campus. At the time of his death, he was collaborating with John Pachence, associate teaching professor of integrative arts, on a sponsored research project with the Roger Nichols Archive, which includes material related to John Denver’s 1985 tour of the Soviet Union, the University said.
The Abington Student Government Association honored Robson in 2021 for his dedication to students.
“When I first arrived at Penn State Abington, I immediately knew it was a special place. It’s humbling to be honored by our students, who make Abington a warm and welcoming academic community,” Robson said.
“Roy was a popular instructor, adviser and student mentor who undoubtedly had a positive impact on the many students he taught at Abington and other institutions. He will be sorely missed,” Friederike Baer, division head for Arts and Humanities and associate professor history, said.
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Photo: PSU Abington