John Robertson
Mount Royal University Professor Emeritus John Robertson helped mould Mount Royal's Department of Sociology and Anthropology.
"It is a great honour to be designated a Professor Emeritus," says Robertson. "Mount Royal has always been a wonderful place to work and it has truly validated me as a professional anthropologist."
The Professor Emeritus distinction is an honorary title that recognizes retired faculty members for exceptional contributions during their long-term association with Mount Royal.
Robertson joined Mount Royal in 1972 as an Anthropology sessional instructor before gaining tenure in 1987. From 1991 to 1996 he chaired the Department of Behavioural Sciences.
Robertson was instrumental in creating a number of Anthropology courses, hiring other faculty members, and conducting research activities.
Robertson's innovations in teaching strategies involved advocating for the Archaeology and Physical Anthropology Lab (EA 2012), which bears a plaque in his honour.
Individualized attention
Another example of Robertson's personal approach to curriculum development was the use of his notes for the archaeology course lab manuals.
In 1997, he was the founding member of the Mount Royal Pottery Club and until 2003 was the club's president.
From 2008 Robertson was the founding member and secretary for the Calgary Clay Arts Association.
He made replicas of early Alberta pottery vessels for the University of Calgary's Department of Archaeology, several of which are on display at the Fish Creek Interpretive Centre.
In 2003, Robertson arranged for the creation of the Jim Humphreys Award, a student scholarship funded through the Archaeological Society of Alberta that is awarded to a Mount Royal anthropology student each year.
Although Robertson retired from Mount Royal in 2004, he continues to teach part-time and actively pursues his scholarly work.
- Jondrea De Ruyter