Robert Burns bows out
Campus fixture, dean, department head and beloved instructor set to retire after serving as faculty for 38 years at SDSU.
Julie Frank
Issue date: 4/9/08 Section: News
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That passionate man is Dr. Robert Burns, head of the Political Science and History Department and the dean of the Honors College, who will retire at the end of the academic year.
"I have been very fortunate; I came upon this position at SDSU ... It has unfolded as a wonderful professional career here, as well as a great setting for a healthy personal life," Burns said.
Burns was born Aug. 20, 1942, and grew up in Flandreau. After graduation in 1960, he attended SDSU and was awarded the Briggs Scholarship. He chose to study political science after completing an American government course. He received a bachelor's degree in 1964 and earned a master's degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia in political science. During his fourth year at graduate school, Burns was awarded a teacher assistantship.
"Really, as a result of that experience of a teaching assistant at the University of Missouri, I discovered I very much enjoyed being an instructor," Burns said.
Burns also served two years as a commissioned officer in the military and was commissioned through ROTC at SDSU. In 1968, he went oversees to serve in Vietnam until August 1970.
While in Vietnam, Burns received a letter asking if he would be interested in a one-year appointment teaching at SDSU for the Political Science Department.
Burns took the job without hesitation, knowing he would leave Vietnam in August and did not have time to look for a teaching job for the fall.
However, one year with SDSU turned into two, and two into three years before he was offered a tenure contract and has been teaching here since.
During this time, he received a doctorate in political science from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Abbey Howell, a senior political science and Spanish major, said Burns motivates his students.
"He wants students to care about it (the subject matter) and enjoy learning," she said.
Hanson said Burns helped SDSU's Political Science Department be recognized and is an inspiration to future leaders.
Burns became the head of Political Science Department in 1989 and has also been the head for the Philosophy and Religion Department.
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