Lee Anderson, a Northwestern professor emeritus who developed theinternational studies program, died June 12 in his Evanston home ofhereditary emphysema. Anderson was 66.
During his 38 years at NU, Anderson held a joint appointment in politicalscience and the School of Education and Social Policy. He also chaired thecommittee that developed the International Studies adjunct major.
“He was one of the prime architects of good portions of the program,” saidInternational Studies Director Phyllis Lyons, who served on the committeewith Anderson. “He was deeply involved in the creation of the world systemscourses.”
Anderson taught Introduction to the World System, a three-part entry classfor international studies students, for a few years before illness forcedhim to quit teaching. Lyons said he tried to continue but became too sick.”That’s when we first realized that there was something seriously awry,”she said.
Before coming to NU in 1961, Anderson received a bachelor’s degree from theUniversity of Idaho and a doctorate in political science from theUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Anderson’s colleagues said he studied globalization before it became atrend and attempted to integrate it into education early on.
“Lee was very concerned early in his career with developing internationaleducation for Americans at the primary and secondary levels, as well as inhigher education,” said history Prof. Frank Safford, who also worked withAnderson on the committee to establish international studies.
Lyons said Anderson helped focus the program more on students’ needs. Healso influenced her own views, she said.
“He gave me many intellectual and what you might call spiritualunderstandings,” Lyons said. “He had a wider and more philosophicalunderstanding of international studies.”
Lyons described Anderson as “laid back and deeply committed” in his workwith both faculty and students.
“He was obviously very deeply committed, but he was also very easy in theway he did things,” she said. “He was just very warm and concerned andoutgoing.”
Anderson is survived by his wife, Charlotte, who also works in educationand is president of Education for Global Involvement, a non-profitfoundation.
“He and his wife, both in their work, have been important models,” Lyonssaid. “The two of them worked together beautifully.”
Anderson is also survived by a son, Nathan; a daughter, Erica; a sister,Nancy Bossenbroek; and five grandchildren.
