| GRESHAM RILEY AWARD RECIPIENT 2009 |
 Timothy Fuller
Timothy Fuller’s dedication to teaching emerged early in his undergraduate experience when he resolved to teach in a liberal arts college like his own. He then discovered a kindred spirit and inspiration in Michael Oakeshott, the great British philosopher, historian and teacher, who visited Colorado College in 1974, at Tim’s invitation, as one of the speakers honoring the college’s 100th anniversary. Oakeshott’s argument that a human being is what he learns to become, and that places of learning are historic sites dedicated above all else to learning to be human, articulated Tim’s own thoughts.
Tim believes that this indicates the teacher’s vocation: assisting students in their quest for self-understanding and wisdom. In doing this, “The most important thing is the transmission of the heritage of Western civilization to a new generation of students, encouraging them to think analytically and carefully about what they study and the views they hold,” he says.
Tim, who served as Acting President of Colorado College from August 2001 to January 2002, has taught now for nearly 45 years, and says he has enjoyed every one of them. “The interdisciplinary courses have allowed me to teach with quite a few of my colleagues. For many years I have conducted an informal Political Theory Discussion Group with students. We meet once a week during the school year to discuss literary and philosophical texts together. Currently I have a group of about eight students doing this with me. This is learning pursued because it is intrinsically good.”
He states his greatest hope for the legacy of his teaching simply: “That I have taught them well.”
Tim and his wife Kalah MAT ’73 have two daughters, Margaret Fuller Simpson ’93 and Amelia Shepard Weber ’96.
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