Robert M. Henkels Jr.
Jan. 17, 2004
Robert M. Henkels Jr., a former associate professor of French at Western Michigan University, died Nov. 16, 2003, in Auburn, Ala. He was 64.
During his brief stay at WMU, 1977-79, Henkels distinguished himself as a teacher and scholar of French literature. He spoke at several regional and national conferences and was a 1978 recipient of a WMU Faculty Research Grant. Henkels left WMU to serve as a professor of French and head of the Department of Foreign Languages at Auburn University. Shortly before his death, he was retired as a professor emeritus at Auburn.
Henkels published extensively on the writings of the 20th century avant-garde French novelist Robert Pinget and gained international recognition for his work.
Prior to his tenure at WMU, Henkels taught at Williams College and Emory University. He graduated "cum laude" in French and English from Princeton University in 1962. As a National Endowment in the Humanities Fellow, he obtained a master of arts and doctor of arts and humanities in French studies from Brown University in 1965 and 1966, respectively.
Media contact: Thom Myers, 269 387-8400, thom.myers@wmich.edu