The University of Colorado, Boulder has recently decided to deny tenure to Dr. Henry Pickford, Assistant Professor for the Department of German and Slavic Languages and Literatures, Affiliate Faculty Member for the Department of Philosophy, and Affiliate Faculty Member for Comparative Literature. This decision will result in the loss of an important scholar and brilliant educator who has been teaching here since 2006. Due to his excellence in teaching, we urge the university leadership to change their decision regarding his teaching career.

Dr. Pickford is an invaluable member of the university’s community. He is among the few faculty members whose scholarship and teaching aims to educate students at all academic levels to develop a thorough understanding of complex topics through his philosophical approach. His courses include, but are not limited to, graduate and undergraduate studies regarding Marxism, the Holocaust, Wittgenstein, Nietzsche, and Tolstoy. Without Dr. Pickford’s presence at the university, such courses would cease to be taught, significantly decreasing the diversity of quality classes offered.

Thoroughly published and widely acknowledged through grants, awards, and honors, Dr. Pickford is more than qualified as a top scholar, under whom any student would be privileged to study. His expertise is considered an invaluable resource for students at all academic levels who need to be challenged beyond the average university course, resulting in scholarly growth in areas such as writing, reading comprehension, critical thinking, and philosophical theory. His enthusiasm for teaching, and willingness to grow as an educator makes him a successful and meritorious professor. Providing his students with valuable and enduring academic tools, we fear Dr. Pickford’s absence will reduce the quality of education provided by a highly regarded institution such as the University of Colorado, Boulder and the academic community at large. Effective learning hinges upon devoted teachers. By denying Professor Pickford tenure, the administration is voluntarily depriving its students from a valuable resource. 

Thank you for your kind attention to this matter. We look forward to finding a way to resolve this important and timely issue and grant Professor Pickford tenure.