Renowned Historian Visits CPP to Discuss Religion, World History

The Department of Interdisciplinary General Education welcomed author and historian Robert Strayer to Cal Poly Pomona on November 19 to present on the role of religion in world history.

Strayer, author of the widely adopted textbook “Ways of the World,” began his teaching career in Ethiopia as an instructor for the Peace Corps and later joined SUNY College in Brockport, New York as a professor of history teaching on the subjects of African, Soviet and world history.

At Brockport, he spent several years conducting research in Kenya and one summer participating in a cultural exchange study program in China. He also served as visiting professor in New Zealand at the University of Centerbury.

Since retiring from SUNY College, Strayer moved to California and has taught world history at several UC campuses.

“It was an honor to host Robert Strayer on campus, not only because he is an esteemed scholar of global history, but because his work forms a cornerstone of the IGE program,” said Assistant Professor Hilary Haakenson, event host.

“In his life and his writing, he has approached history through a global perspective, comparing diverse historical and geographical examples, community formation, empire, environmental sustainability, the power of art, tensions between faith and secular authority, and social constructions of race, class, and gender. Strayer's lecture was a wonderful opportunity for students to meet and discuss their own experiences with an author whose words and ideas they have been in conversation with throughout their courses.”

One of the attendees, IGE student Andrea Doan, said, “It was really amazing to meet the person who wrote our textbook. At first, coming into it, I thought he was just going to talk about himself and what made him the man that he is today, but he really gave us a history lesson. It was so much more impactful and interesting that we weren’t just reading his knowledge, we were able to see it firsthand.”

IGE student Kassidy Lam said she gained insight from the talk.

“It was interesting,” Lam said. “It’s a different learning experience when you read the textbook versus hearing it first person.”

At the conclusion of the program, attendees were able to ask questions and meet and greet Strayer. The lecture was sponsored by a SPICE grant.

For more information about the event, contact Assistant Professor Haakenson by email at hahaakenson@cpp.edu.

View event photos by clicking here.