Professor Heidi Thomson retires after 31 years’ contribution to English Literature
In March of this year, the Wellington Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences farewelled Professor Heidi Thomson, who made a major contribution in her time at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, where she spent her entire academic career.
Heidi began at the University in 1990 as a lecturer, after moving to New Zealand from Illinois, United States where she had gained her PhD in English Literature and Master of Arts at the University of Illinois.
Between 2016 and 2017 Heidi was the Programme Director for English at the University and in 2017 she was appointed Professor of English Literature. Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Professor Sarah Leggott says the University is “extraordinarily fortunate to have had Professor Thomson as an academic colleague for over 30 years”.
“Recognised nationally and internationally as one of the preeminent scholars of Romantic Studies, Heidi has also made quite exceptional contributions to the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and the wider University across learning and teaching, external engagement and hautūtanga,” Sarah adds.
“She is widely recognised as an excellent and inspirational teacher, and she has also brought a keen sense of citizenship to her role as an academic. Heidi has been a role model for many women academics within and beyond her discipline, and she will be very much missed by many colleagues across the Faculty,” says Sarah.
Heidi has published widely on the life and works of Thomas Gray, Maria Edgeworth, William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and John Keats. In 2016 she published Coleridge and the Romantic Newspaper: The Morning Post and the Road to Dejection and has also edited Maria Edgeworth’s The Absentee and Volume V of The Novels and Selected Works of Maria Edgeworth.
Heidi’s contributions to New Zealand literature include writing the monthly book review column in the Dominion Post from 1993 to 2004 and refereeing and assessing manuscripts for several national and international journals, presses and organisations, including Victoria University Press, Kōtare and the Royal Society of New Zealand Marsden Fund.She was also involved in the organisation of conferences and symposia in New Zealand and overseas.
She is a native speaker of Dutch and fluent in French, and her interest in the multilingual and multicultural dimension of Romaniticism and poetry has allowed her to bring to life the relevance and meaning of Romantic poetry and philosophies in contemporary New Zealand.
It also speaks to Heidi’s contribution to the University and scholarly distinction that she was awarded Emeritus Professor upon her retirement, in recognition of her many distinguished contributions to the University throughout her career here.
When speaking to her colleagues, the impact Heidi has had on the University is clear.
“Heidi has been an extraordinary teacher, colleague, and researcher throughout her time at the University. Her personality, intellectual brilliance, and passion for our students will be sorely missed by everyone who has been lucky enough to work and study with her,” say Associate Professor Nikki Hessell and Professor Jane Stafford.
The Faculty and University would like to thank Professor Heidi Thomson for her remarkable contribution to the University, and we wish her the best in her retirement and look forward to seeing the continued research activities she will pursue.