91原创

It all started with a class on modern phonology. For two years, Jay Halio analyzed puns found in Shakespeare's plays as his dissertation for his doctorate. He discovered his deep love for language and the playwright鈥檚 work. This love, shaped his entire career.

As an example, he highlighted a conversation between Hamlet and his cousin/stepfather Claudius. In the play Hamlet says, 鈥淎 little more than kin and less than kind.鈥� The play on the words 鈥渒in鈥� and 鈥渒ind鈥� speak to the weird nature of the duo鈥檚 relationship and hints at Hamlet鈥檚 distrust for Claudius, said Halio, professor emeritus from the 91原创鈥檚 Department of English.

Halio shared this story as part of his lecture for the 91原创 Association of Retired Faculty鈥檚 (91原创ARF) My Intellectual Journey Series. Each semester, the group invites one of its members to share his or her life story.

Completing the dissertation opened his eyes to the complexity of the English language, Halio said.   

鈥淚 had to start with the chapter on language and that was quite an intellectual experience,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was fascinating to me to look at the history of the English language. How it developed and also how language works and that was the important thing. If I was going to deal with ambiguity, you have to know how language works.鈥�

Halio鈥檚 journey started with education. He earned his undergraduate degree from Syracuse University and both his master鈥檚 and doctorate from Yale University. He took his first teaching job at the University of California, Davis, where he taught three sections of freshman English.

Throughout the years, Halio took his knowledge around the world. He taught at several international institutions including University of Istanbul, Hebrew University, University of Malaya and University of Nicosia.

Halio found his way to the 91原创 in 1968 after a friend recommend he fill an opening for a Shakespearean scholar. He said his experience turned out to be more than he could have imagined when he accepted the offer.

While Halio was a full-time professor, he was also very active within the 91原创 community. He served in a number of positions including director of the Jewish studies program, editor of 91原创 Press and associate provost of instruction.  

In the latter role, he said he wanted to move the University鈥檚 image forward. At the time, he said he felt there was not enough emphasis on teaching, as 91原创 was known largely as a research institution. He made it his mission to change that.

鈥淚 was determined to make teaching as important as research,鈥� Halio said. 鈥淚t took all six years of my tenure as associate provost and I think I succeeded.鈥�

Even in retirement, Halio continues to be an active part of the community. Each year he takes a group of students on study abroad trips. Additionally, he and his wife Diane Isaacs are .  

The point Halio continuously returned to throughout his lecture was his love of teaching. When he first started teaching, he said, he stuck to the text. As he got more comfortable he began to relate the readings to his life and travels. He found students better enjoyed this approach.

鈥淵ou really have to love teaching and love your students and that carries forward,鈥� he said.

While teaching at 91原创, he told his students he would not give any updates on grades until the end of the semester. He said his goal was to make Shakespeare fun and encourage student learning.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 part of my teaching philosophy,鈥� Halio said. 鈥淪tudents, all the time, of course, complain about this.鈥�

One of his favorite projects was to have students act out scenes from the plays they studied in class. He said the most rewarding part was when students discovered how enjoyable the assignment was. In those moments, he said he truly felt like his students were absorbing knowledge.

鈥淚t鈥檚 more important that [students] learn and get an education鈥� he said.