Career information and photos provided by Deb Anderson, UW-Green Bay Archives
The University of Wisconsin–Green Bay was sad to learn of the passing of Professor Emeritus Clifford Abbott, whose more than four decades of service at UW-Green Bay profoundly shaped both the University and the broader region. From his arrival in 1974 until his retirement in 2015, Professor Abbott’s work exemplified academic excellence, collaborative spirit, and deep commitment to Indigenous language preservation.
Academic Foundations and Early Contributions
Professor Abbott joined UW–Green Bay in 1974 following the completion of his bachelor’s degree at Tufts University and graduate training at Yale University. His initial appointment blended work in Communication–Action with a critical role in the federally supported Oneida Language Project. Through this effort, he collaborated with Oneida community members to document the language, preserve oral traditions, and create effective teaching materials for both academic and community use. The project’s success was underscored by more than one million dollars in federal funding secured under his leadership, enabling significant advancements in language preservation and instructional accessibility.
Colleagues and community partners commended his “sensitivity and openness to different value systems,” as well as his dedicated, long hours in support of the program and the community.
Excellence in Teaching and Intellectual Leadership
Throughout his tenure, Professor Abbott distinguished himself as a versatile and thoughtful educator. In a 1984 interview with the Fourth Estate, he expressed appreciation for UW–Green Bay’s collaborative academic environment, stating:
“I like the small size. Also the opportunity to work with other faculty members and be able to do quite a variety of different kinds of teaching.”
He also emphasized his enduring scholarly interests, noting:
“I still maintain an interest in metaphors… I would also like to be able to get into a position to do more with cognitive processing as it involves language.”
Across his career, he taught an expansive range of courses—from linguistics, semantics, and metaphor to information sciences, communication, and Indigenous language instruction. His teaching philosophy underscored four key obligations: service to students, the institution, his academic field, and his own continued growth as an educator. He emphasized exposing students to the “power, beauty, and excitement” of academic ideas while upholding First Amendment principles and recognizing the importance of experiential wisdom in effective teaching.
Leadership in Program Development and Governance
Professor Abbott’s influence extended well beyond the classroom. He played a central role in shaping UW–Green Bay’s distinctive Information Sciences program, integrating computing, communication, logic, and linguistics in innovative ways that earned institutional recognition. His leadership included service as Chair of Information and Computing Sciences (1986–1994), membership on the Budget and Planning Council, and nearly two decades on the Faculty Senate, including service as Secretary of the Faculty and Academic Staff.
In 1987, he authored a Faculty Senate resolution establishing a writing‑across‑the‑curriculum approach, ensuring students gained meaningful writing experience across disciplines. His sustained contributions to academic planning, faculty development, and governance earned multiple UW–Green Bay Founders Association awards recognizing excellence in community outreach, institutional development, and scholarship.
A Lifelong Commitment to Oneida Language Revitalization
Among Professor Abbott’s most enduring achievements is his extensive work with the Oneida Nation. He authored scholarly works including a contribution to The Oneida Indian Experience (1989) and developed what colleagues called the “life‑work” of great significance—the Oneida Language Dictionary and a comprehensive Oneida reference grammar. This body of work, produced in deep collaboration with Oneida speakers, has been described as “theoretically significant” and remains a cornerstone resource for language learners and educators.
Reflecting on his long partnership with the Oneida community, Professor Abbott remarked:
“The work that I do with the Oneidas gives me an opportunity to spend time in a different world outside of academics. It is very refreshing.”
Oneida elder Amelia Cornelius affirmed the value of his contributions, noting:
“His work is invaluable to us… he was a very understanding person who was diligent in his work.”
His efforts continued through the creation of the Oneida Language Tools website, launched in 2007, and later through the translation and transcription of materials from the Eleazar Williams Papers, further preserving hymns, sermons, and historical writings in Oneida and Mohawk.
Enduring Impact and Legacy
Professor Abbott retired in 2015 and was named Professor Emeritus, recognizing his exemplary career as a scholar, teacher, and university leader. His legacy endures in the academic programs he helped build, the generations of students he taught and mentored, and the invaluable linguistic resources he created in partnership with the Oneida Nation.
His career stands as a testament to the impact of sustained community engagement, interdisciplinary scholarship and unwavering dedication to education. The University of Wisconsin–Green Bay is grateful for Professor Abbott’s lifetime of service and the enduring contributions that continue to shape the University and the region.
A celebration of Cliff’s life will be held at a later date.
Oneida Dictionary Information Video
Link to Prof. Emeritus Cliff Abbott oral history interview
