History Professor Earns Visiting Professorship at Oxford

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Randall Woods, the John A. Cooper Professor of History.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The department of history in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences has announced that Randall B. Woods, the John A. Cooper Professor of History, has been named the John G. Winant Visiting Professor of American Government at Oxford University for the fall 2013 term.

The chair was established by Rivington Winant, whose father, John, served as U.S. ambassador to Great Britain from 1941-1946 and played a major role in forging the wartime alliance. Recipients of the visiting professorship deliver 24 lectures in American politics and history including one major public address, the Winant Lecture. This lecture is given annually at the Rothermere American Institute, Oxford’s interdisciplinary establishment for the study of U.S. history, politics, international relations and literature. The Winant Professor is a fellow of Balliol College and participates in the intellectual life of the Rothermere American Institute.

“The Winant Professorship is a great honor,” said Woods. “I’m looking forward to representing Fulbright College, the University of Arkansas, and the state at one of the world’s oldest universities and becoming a part of the great traditions at Balliol and Rothermere.”

Candidates for the visiting professorship are expected to be "intellectually eminent" in American government or history. Woods is a recognized scholar in the field of U.S. diplomatic history, and has published seven books on various topics including Vietnam, the Cold War and Sen. J. William Fulbright. His book on the presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson is regarded as one of the best studies on the controversial president.

“The history department and its faculty uphold the high standards of Fulbright College,” said Robin Roberts, dean of the college. “The tradition of international academic exchange is an example of how we continue the Fulbright legacy of peace through education.”

The professorship marks Woods’ return to England after serving as a Mellon Scholar at Cambridge University in April 2012, where he worked with graduate students and gave lectures on U.S. diplomatic history and the Johnson administration.

The Rothermere American Institute was established in 2001 as “America’s Home at Oxford.” It strives to promote greater understanding of the U.S. and its history, culture and politics by shaping perceptions of the U.S. from an international perspective. Previous recipients of the Winant Professorship include Joel Aberbach of the University of California at Los Angeles and Alan Wolfe of Boston College.