Magnus Bernhardsson (2011-2014)

Theme: Dangerous Learning
Scholar Bernhardsson enters the final year of his term.

Magnus Bernhardsson, professor of History, received his B.A. in political science from the University of Iceland in Reykjavik, Iceland, a M.A. in Religion from Yale Divinity School and his Ph.D. in history from Yale University. He received fellowships from the Williams College Oakley Center for the Humanities and Social Sciences and the American Academic Research Institute in Iraq, among others. In 2007, he was the recipient of the Nelson Bushnell Prize for excellence in teaching from Williams College.

Bernhardsson organized his work as Gaudino Scholar around the theme of danger. What is danger? What ideas are dangerous? Can art be dangerous? What about science? How do we deal with and confront danger? His programs included:

  • Helping to start a class held in cooperation with the Berkshire County Jail
  • Starting the Human Library Program, in its third year as of spring 2014
  • Planning a variety of Gaudino Forums over his term to provide focused discussion on topics centering around his theme of Danger. The Record covered one of these forums.
  • Worked with the faculty to incorporate the theme of danger into their courses
  • Worked to revamp the Gaudino Fellows Winter Study Program to a group-based project

For more information: Magnus Bernhardsson, Gaudino Scholar – Gaudino Fund (williams.edu)

Scholar Work: