A professor teaching international development in the School of International Service, Richardson is the faculty-in-residence for Anderson, where he lives on the first floor.
For almost 10 years, Richardson has lived on his own in Anderson.
What started in 2002 as an experiment to better connect students with faculty has turned into a permanent residence and lifestyle for Richardson, who accepted the position with the intention to “try things out, and find out what things work to connect students to the faculty at AU.”
The close relationship that Richardson had with his professors at his alma mater, Dartmouth College, inspired him to contact the Office of Campus Life when he heard about a vacant apartment in Anderson.
Vice President of Campus Life Gail Hanson then worked with Richardson to create the position of faculty-in-residence.
Richardson’s living room is full of photos, books, pieces of art and bowls of candy. A decorative rug from Sri Lanka hangs on the wall in the living room, right next to a handwritten sign taped to the wall inviting students to enjoy the iced tea in the refrigerator and Klondike bars in the freezer.
Richardson said he has spent a great deal of time in Sri Lanka conducting research.
Six of the books he wrote are stacked on a coffee table.
His most recent work, “Paradise Poisoned: Learning about Conflict, Terrorism and Development from Sri Lanka’s Civil Wars,” is now being translated into two native Sri Lankan languages. Those installments are expected to come out in 2014.
Richardson’s goal is to learn the language by that time, in order to give a speech at the celebration of the book publication in Sri Lanka.
“It’s hard to learn a language when you’re my age,” Richardson said.
But before 2014, Richardson hopes to move to Sri Lanka for six months to live with a family and with Buddhist monks in order to embrace and learn the language.
Of all the professor’s career accomplishments, he is most proud of his role as a spokesperson for the students, which he said has been both surprising and very rewarding.
Richardson has been a spokesperson for the Office of Student Life by acting as a connection between the students and the organization that plans events and opportunities for AU students.
Richardson said he takes a very objective approach to his relationships with students.
“Until college, all of your relationships with adults have been authoritative,” he said. “They have power over you, so you won’t be authentic. I have made it a point to not have any role of authority in the dorm.”
By planning South side community dinners and weekly teas, walking around the “Beach” with a bowl of candy during late-night fire alarms and providing strawberries on move-in day, Richardson does everything possible to “support students in making their own way.”
kfaherty@theeagleonline.com
