Meet the Professor! Ehud Ben Zvi

Meet our newest emeritus: Ehud Ben Zvi

19 May 2016

On June 30, 2016 Ehud Ben Zvi is retiring after 26 years at the U of A! Let's get to know our newest emeritus.

Where is your favourite place on campus?

Actually, several: (a) the greenhouse in the Agriculture Forestry building; (b) the sitting area between HUB and Humanities; (c) the 'Arts' quad; (d) my office.

If you were not an academic, what do you think you would be doing?

I am not sure. I can imagine myself doing a number of jobs and I did a number of jobs before I became an 'academic'. But I am quite sure, I would have enjoyed working in (computer) programming.

Where did you grow up?

Did? I am still growing up and hope to continue growing up for a long time!

Where did you get your BA, MA, Phd?

My BA is from the Open University (Israel), my MA is from Tel Aviv University, my PhD is from Emory University. I also have a BSc, which I started in South America and completed in Israel.​

If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

Sorry to be so boring, but actually it would be here in Edmonton. I would like to spend more time in Canmore, to be sure, but as place for living permanently, I really like my place.

What is your favourite thing about teaching?

Working together with students, assisting them in their own learning processes, delighting in their progress and learning from them.

What is your favourite book?

To rest my mind from academic books, I tend to read Science Fiction (within a very fuzzy definition of the term). Among my preferred ScFi novels is Kim Stanley Robinson, The Years of Rice and Salt (which is a kind of 'alternate' history and thus SciFi too).

Would you rather ride a bike, ride a horse, or drive a car?

What's wrong with walking?

When did you know you wanted to study History?

Probably early on, but I also wanted to study Biochemistry, Mathematics (and later Computing)… When I finished my BA (several years after my BSc), it was clear to me that what I would like the most was to work as an ancient historian.

If you could share a meal with any four individuals, living or dead, who would they be? (not your family)

Well, I would like a meal with Malala Yousafzai and Bill Gates, and another with Émile Durkheim and Albert Einstein.

What is your favourite family tradition?

My favourite tradition at home has been to substantially reshape, reformulate, etc. received, common traditions and create some new ones. Another way of saying this is to say that I am not 'strong' on 'received traditions' or 'rituals,' but of course, this is also a 'tradition.'

Do you collect anything?

Good memories, hope; I attempt to collect some knowledge, understanding.

What was your first job?

When I was around 12 years old I did some typing of official, legal documents for a Notary. I got paid by the (absolutely mistake or correction free) page. When I became a bit older, I became also a casual courier of documents.

What we may not know about you?

I practice yoga every day (and have done that for many years). I practice also laughter yoga!

Thank you, Ehud! Enjoy your retirement and make sure to come see us often!