Andreas Kazamias, a longtime faculty member in the School of Education’s Department of Educational Policy Studies and pioneer in the field of comparative education, died on Aug. 15. 

Born in the village of Kalopanayiotis, Cyprus, in 1927, Kazamias was educated on scholarship at the English School in Cyprus before traveling to the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom to study history and classics. He later came to the United States, where he studied at the University of Kansas and Harvard University before joining the faculty at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. 

In the 60 years he spent teaching and researching at UW–Madison, Kazamias helped build the Department of Educational Policy Studies and established the Comparative and International Education concentration. He was the author of over 30 books and numerous articles in comparative education and history; his works have been translated into 13 languages and have influenced generations of scholars worldwide.

Over the course of his career, Kazamias emerged as one of the most influential figures in comparative education, becoming known as the field’s “grandfather.” In a 2022 profile in the School of Education’s Learning Connections alumni magazine, Adam Nelson, UW–Madison’s John L. Thomas (WARF) Professor and Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor of Educational Policy Studies and History, said, “He is a lion in the field of comparative education and one of the pillars in the development of the field in the United States.”

Beyond his scholarly contributions, Kazamias also was also a trusted friend and mentor in the Department of Educational Policy Studies, generously encouraging younger faculty members. Nancy Kendall, a Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor and current department chair who joined EPS shortly after Kazamias retired in 2005, recalled in Learning Connections that “he taught me how to advise students and support them through dissertation defenses” and that “he offered so many pieces of advice for living a good life.”

Kazamias also founded the Greek Societies of Comparative Education and the History of Education. He was president of the Comparative International Education Society and served as editor of the Comparative Education Review and Harvard Education Review.

An avid Badgers and Green Bay Packers fan, Kazamias often spent half the year teaching at UW–Madison and half teaching at the University of Athens in Greece, but he made sure to be in Wisconsin for football season.

As a teacher, Kazamias was known for bringing history to life. He often led discussions while taking on the persona of Socrates and challenging students to wrestle with the classic tensions of “Agamemnon contra Prometheus.” According to his family obituary, one of his greatest joys was engaging in daily “conversations with Socrates” and being known as “a Socratic gadfly.”

His warmth and energy left a lasting impression on colleagues and students. His obituary remembers him as someone who “will always be known for his enthusiasm, a twinkle in his eye, a skip in his walk, and a chance to dance.” 

In 2021, three anonymous donors established a graduate student scholarship in his name through the Department of Educational Policy Studies (EPS), recognizing his extraordinary impact. 

“Andreas’s legacy is woven into the fabric of our institution,” said School of Education Dean Marcelle Haddix. “Generations of students, faculty, and staff were inspired by his intellect, mentorship, and unwavering commitment to advancing education. His impact can be seen not only in the ideas he developed and shared, but also in the countless lives he touched through his teaching, leadership, and friendship.”

Memorials may be made to the Kazamias Graduate Award Fund through the University of Wisconsin Foundation by mail at US Bank Lockbox 78807, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53278, or online at supportuw.org/giveto/Kazamias-Graduate-Award.