William Roy

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A master in the art of classroom instruction, William Roy uses his skills not only to captivate students in his own rigorous classes, but also to demystify the teaching process for teaching assistants enrolled in the sociology department training program. A multifaceted instructor who strives to help his students see their world in new ways, Professor Roy excels at making complicated material comprehensible and encouraging students at all levels to take part in the intellectual life of the classroom. As one student wrote, “He so encouraged the fusion of fact and interest that I did not just learn the course material, I wanted to learn it.”

In addition to his role as a popular graduate advisor and instructor, he has taken an active part in creating graduate coursework and organizing the graduate program in macrosociology. He pioneered the use of computer graphics in the sociology classroom and is a staunch advocate of writing skills, helping students develop and refine their papers. He has even co-authored a book outlining the requirements of writing in the social sciences. Professor Roy’s greatest contribution to ULA may well be his work with individual students. To them, he is a constant source of encouragement, guidance and inspiration – a consummate teacher as well as friend.