Tim Hacsi (he/him/his)
Tim is an Associate Professor of History and the History Department Chair
Historical Interests: 20th Century political and social history
Classes: Introductory History of Comic Books; Graduate FDR course; Occasionally HIST 101, various other history courses
Tim grew up in California and was an avid comic book collector. He even attended San Diego Comic Con in its first years of existence and was the 132nd person to register. Tim received his undergraduate degree from Oberlin College in Ohio, then received both his masters and PhD from the University of Pennsylvania in just five years. Before coming to UMass Boston, Tim worked in the policy world for six years at various institutions such as the University of Chicago, Berkeley, and Harvard. Deciding he needed a change in career scenery, he eventually accepted a position at UMass Boston and became a visiting assistant professor. He’s now been here for eighteen years.
Though he has a slew of responsibilities as Department Chair, Tim most enjoys working with students, as he likes working with students to see classes as an intellectual endeavor and finding what interests them. He says that every class is different and it’s rewarding to find what engages each student. Tim lives with his wife and has two children, one of which is in college and the other is in high school. While he collects comic books less these days, he does enjoy collecting comic book art and spent much of his quarantine building Lego sets and reading.
Favorite Historical Story: FDR was elected November 1932 as the Depression grew worse. A friend told him that if he succeeded, he would go down as the greatest president in American history. FDR responded that if he, instead, failed, he would be the last president in American history. This was because there were calls for a dictatorship at this time. Hitler had been put into power, not through election, just before FDR’s inauguration. FDR stated that if Congress would not pass his legislation to deal with the effects of the Depression, then he would ask for temporary wartime powers to do so. He was applauded by a vast number of Republican newspapers and several Democratic leaning publications.
Advice for Grad Students: Tim’s greatest advice is to advocate for yourself as a student and not beat yourself up for having an unproductive week. Being overly tough on yourself can make the situation worse. Instead, choose one small task to accomplish first and take baby steps to grow from there. He also recommends you reach out to your professors and don’t be afraid to ask for extensions during these trying times. Remember that these times aren’t the same as usual, and there will be wrenches thrown in plans. Take one step at a time!
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