Disciplines
Oral History
Abstract
Dr. Richard D., FCRH class of 1954, was one of the first graduates of the honors program. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts from Fordham, Richard continued his formal education on a Fulbright at the University of Louvain in Belgium, where he studied philosophy, and then at Yale University, where he obtained a Ph.D. in 1959. He went on to have an illustrious post-doctoral career with research fellowships and assistant professorships at Yale, Columbia, Stanford, the Hoover Institution, and the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland. He began at the University of Kansas in 1959 as an assistant professor of philosophy and remained there for over 50 years, when he retired with the title distinguished professor (emeritus). His research primarily concerned Soviet and Eastern European philosophy, and he was a pioneer in the field of business ethics.
In his interview, Dr. Richard recalls the exciting newness and intellectual rigor of the honors program in its infancy. Balancing the seminars and reading list with his own heavy course load—including ten hours of Russian—was demanding, but he valued the challenge and close friendships it fostered. He developed a lasting mentorship with Father Joseph Frese, whose detailed feedback shaped his research capabilities throughout his career. A formative junior year spent studying in Paris broadened his academic and cultural horizons. The program, he says, influenced his later studies, international experiences, and career, and he encourages current students to embrace every opportunity it offers.
Recommended Citation
FCRH Honors Program. "Interview with Richard D.," FCRH Honors Program Oral History Project, Fordham University, 2025. https://research.library.fordham.edu/honorsprogram_fcrh_oral_history/
