The Board of Directors of the Religious Education Association has announced that Professor Robert (Bob) Jackson, PhD, DLitt, AcSS, will receive the William Rainey Harper Award at the 2013 REA Annual Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts.
The William Rainey Harper Award was named after the first President of the University of Chicago, who was the founder of the Religious Education Association in 1903. It is presented to outstanding leaders whose academic contributions and/or professional service from across the disciplines and fields of study has had a significant impact on the theory and practice of religious education. Previous esteemed recipients include Elie Wiesel, Margaret Mead, Paulo Freire, James Fowler, and most recently, Parker Palmer.
The award recognizes Jackson’s significant contribution to the study and advocacy of religions and education in the school experience of young people. Professor Jackson, who holds positions at Warwick University and the European Wergeland Centre in Oslo, is an expert consultant on religious diversity and education and Co-Editor of the Waxmann book series Religious Diversity and Education in Europe. Between 1994 and 2012 Professor Jackson led the Warwick Religions and Education Research Unit (WRERU), the largest research team in Europe dedicated to religions and education.
“Simply the breadth of Robert Jackson’s work and the range of disciplines on which he draws makes him a very strong candidate for this award. I also appreciate the fact that his work has had impact in many interreligious, intercultural and international areas, and that makes him a worthy recipient in the context of the mission of REA,” wrote Sara Lee, a member of the Committee who recommends award recipients to the Board.
More information about Professor Jackson, including his extensive curriculum vita, can be found on the Warwick website.