Remembering William Theodore de Bary

The National Endowment for the Humanities notes the passing of William Theodore de Bary, longtime professor of Asian studies at Columbia University, 2013 National Humanities Medalist, and recipient of several NEH grants. A celebrated teacher, he was the author or editor behind many books used to expand American college curricula to include courses on Asian cultures. “Dr. de Bary’s efforts to foster a global conversation,” said the White House citation for his humanities medal, “have underscored how the common values and experiences shared by Eastern and Western cultures can be used to bridge our differences and build trust.”