Professor Stanley Gordon Mosley Ridge passed away in January 2018 at the age of 76 after a long battle with cancer.
Prof Ridge joined UWC in 1979 and retired in 2007 but continued to serve as an Emeritus Professor. He was a former chairperson and Emeritus Professor of the English Department, Dean of Arts, Vice-Rector: Academic, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Special Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor of UWC.
Prof Ridge was an internationally recognised expert in the fields of higher education and language policy and planning, Renaissance literature, 19th century American literature, religion and literature, South African literary and publishing history, discourse analysis, sociolinguistics and translation studies. He could doubtless have claimed a senior academic post at almost any academic institution in the world, but chose to commit his considerable intellect and talents to UWC for almost four decades.
Professor Ridge was the Academic Trustee of the Babette Taute Trust, which awards scholarships to students of English, was Chair of the Council of the National English Literary Museum in Grahamstown, and a member of the National Language Body for English. He was awarded the English Academy Gold Medal for sustained distinguished service to the English language.
“We are grateful for the role Stan played in building our institution,” says Rector and Vice-Chancellor Professor Tyrone Pretorius, “and for his commitment to empowering people from all walks of life during his many years of service to UWC.”
Prof Ridge joined UWC in 1979 and retired in 2007 but continued to serve as an Emeritus Professor. He was a former chairperson and Emeritus Professor of the English Department, Dean of Arts, Vice-Rector: Academic, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Special Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor of UWC.
Prof Ridge was an internationally recognised expert in the fields of higher education and language policy and planning, Renaissance literature, 19th century American literature, religion and literature, South African literary and publishing history, discourse analysis, sociolinguistics and translation studies. He could doubtless have claimed a senior academic post at almost any academic institution in the world, but chose to commit his considerable intellect and talents to UWC for almost four decades.
Professor Ridge was the Academic Trustee of the Babette Taute Trust, which awards scholarships to students of English, was Chair of the Council of the National English Literary Museum in Grahamstown, and a member of the National Language Body for English. He was awarded the English Academy Gold Medal for sustained distinguished service to the English language.
“We are grateful for the role Stan played in building our institution,” says Rector and Vice-Chancellor Professor Tyrone Pretorius, “and for his commitment to empowering people from all walks of life during his many years of service to UWC.”
