St. Olaf historian nationally recognized for two decades of student mentoring
The Association of Ancient Historians has recognized St. Olaf College Professor History Tim Howe for his dedication to mentoring and providing hands-on learning experiences for undergraduate students interested in history.
The association presented Howe with the Randall Howarth Award, which honors his significant contributions to the professional development of his students and mentees.
“I had the privilege to study with some of the giants in the field, and I strive to pay that forward,” Howe says. “Working alongside students in the field allows them to know what is possible for their careers and have the competitive skills and experience to forge those careers.”
Howe has invested significant time encouraging Oles to participate in academic conferences, supporting undergraduate research opportunities and publication of the findings, providing career advice, and advising on courses and teaching.
“I dedicate my time to challenging my students to find their own paths, to lift them up, and creating opportunities for them to practice ‘job-adjacent’ skills while in the safe environment of college,” he says. “The Howarth Award is making visible that often unseen work. It also shows students that such work matters and is honored.”
For approximately 25 years, Howe’s academic work has focused on understanding how humans lived through studying the Jeffers Petroglyphs in Minnesota and structures in the City of Antiochia ad Cragum in the Mediterranean. At St. Olaf, students have the opportunity to join Howe on a study-abroad program to excavate historical sites and contribute to what we understand about how people lived in the past.
“From my first conference to my first academic job, Professor Howe has been there with advice, support, and encouragement,” says Rebecca Frank ’14, one of Howe’s former students who is now an assistant professor of classics at Colby College. “My desire to teach at a liberal arts college is due in no small part to his influence. I look forward to trying to fill his shoes, and to be the role model for my students that he was for me.”
“From my first conference to my first academic job, Professor Howe has been there with advice, support, and encouragement. My desire to teach at a liberal arts college is due in no small part to his influence.”
— Rebecca Frank ’14
Andrea Gatzke ’05, who is now an associate professor of history and the department chair at the State University of New York at New Paltz, says Howe’s mentorship of students went beyond the classroom.
“Professor Howe’s greatest gifts as a mentor are time and patience. He has always been immensely generous with both, willing to provide me with advice, feedback, and encouragement,” she says. “He helped me develop meaningful research experiences as an undergrad and spent countless hours after I graduated helping me identify graduate programs and polish my application materials, giving me essential advice that I now give my own students considering grad school.”
While the Howarth Award honors all that Howe has done for his students, he points out that the Oles he works with have brought incredible value and joy to his work.
“Human actions and the daily items they deploy to curate their lives can appear random. Students bring new perspectives — a literal fresh set of eyes to the problem and see things I cannot,” Howe says. “I try to work in the field with the most diverse groups possible, from music majors to chemistry and kinesiology majors. All have unique insights.”
The Association of Ancient Historians is the largest professional society for ancient historians globally. The association is the largest organization in North America that is devoted exclusively to promoting teaching and scholarship in ancient history.