J. Rufus Fears

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J. Rufus Fears is a notable American historian, scholar, teacher and author on the subjects of ancient history, the history of liberty, and the lessons of history.

Fears is the David Ross Boyd Professor of Classics at the University of Oklahoma, where he holds the G.T. and Libby Blankenship Chair in the History of Liberty. Professor Fears has his Ph.D. from Harvard University. Prior to coming to OU, Fears held teaching positions at Indiana University and Boston University, where he served as Chair of the Department of Classical Studies.

Fears is an internationally distinguished scholar and has published numerous books and articles in classical studies, the history of liberty, and on the lessons of the past for our own day. He is the author of a series of widely-acclaimed original books on tape, published by The Teaching Company: A History of Freedom, Famous Greeks, Famous Romans, Winston Churchill, and Books That Have Made History – Books That Can Change Your Life. Professor Fears leads annual study trips to historical sites in Europe and America. His recent trips have included “In the Footsteps of Winston Churchill,” In the Footsteps of Peter and Paul,” and “In the Footsteps of the Robert E. Lee.” May 16-30, 2006, he led a study trip “In the Footsteps of Winston Churchill.”

On 24 occasions, Dr. Fears has been recognized for outstanding teaching excellence. In 1996, 1999, and, again, in 2000, students chose him as the University of Oklahoma Professor of the Year. In 2003, he received the University Continuing Education Association Great Plains Region Award for Excellence in Teaching. In 2005, the University Continuing Education Association recognized him with its National Award for Teaching Excellence. The University Continuing Education Association is the national organization for all colleges and universities with continuing education programs in the United States. The Award for Teaching Excellence cited Professor Fears for his contribution to adult education through his dramatic lectures and imaginative scholarship. In that same year, 2005, he received the Excellence in Teaching Award from the Classical Association of the Middle West and South. Students at the University of Oklahoma named him as “Most Inspiring Professor” for 2005. In 2006 he received the Medal for Excellence in College and University Teaching from the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence.^[1]

Professor Fears lectures widely across the country and is currently a regular guest on the Rusty Humphries Show. He is currently writing a book on “Dangerous Delusions: Why We Ignore the Lessons of History at Our Risk.”