DR. BILL MCNIEL

Dr. Bill McNiel is reflective, principled, wry, unexpectedly warm, and just a little contrarian. Affectionately dubbed DMAC by a student, it’s not a name he uses, but he’ll answer to it. Born and raised in Huntsville, Ala., he still keeps in touch with friends from his competitive swimming days, and yes, he’s been coaching swimming for 23 of the 24 years he’s taught history at SSSAS. A high school teacher sparked his fascination with history, introducing him to European ideas like liberalism and Marxism. DMAC majored in history at the University of Alabama, where his interest in Germany deepened. He was captivated by the intersection of religion and politics, which led him to the German Reformation. He went way north to the University of Manitoba for his master’s and to Queen’s University for his Ph.D. He considers finishing and defending his dissertation on the radical phase of the German Reformation (1517–1525) the most difficult thing he’s ever done—and his greatest accomplishment, learning German just to write it! DMAC thinks German priest and theologian Martin Luther would be an interesting dinner guest, not because he likes him, but because Luther enjoyed pontificating over a meal with students. If he could time travel to any historical event, he’d drop into the German Peasants’ War in 1525, preferably on the winning Princes’ side. He has nothing against the peasants, he just doesn’t have a death wish. DMAC enjoys using humor in class, but admits his jokes may not be for everyone. He does think the 1618 Defenestration of Prague is a winner—not, of course, because people were tossed out a window, but because they got lucky and landed in a pile of manure. He must be funny, or at least memorable, because his students have been posting his sayings on his classroom wall for years. He’d be the first to tell you that most of what he says depends heavily on context and really doesn’t have a place in civilized discussion. DMAC wears a tie every day, because he likes formality—especially when it’s out of fashion. Outside the classroom he and his wife live a quiet life. His favorite quote is from “Hamlet,” emphasizing the importance of integrity and honesty. He doesn’t “binge” shows, but appreciates a good historical drama. And, of course, he recommends reading the World War II histories “Black Earth” and “Bloodland” by Timothy Snyder. Somewhat out of character, he’s currently reading Boris Pasternak’s “Dr. Zhivago.” But in a truly quirky twist, his favorite movie is “The Life Aquatic” with Bill Murray. DMAC enjoys long walks and visiting museums on the Mall. He’s also partial to listening to the news and Nats games while he does the dishes—on the radio! He’s not a foodie, but he’ll take salmon or Indian food any day. His bucket list includes going to India and China, and the most adventurous thing he’s ever done? That, he says, would be traveling in East Germany before the Berlin wall came down. While he may spend much of his time looking backward through history, DMAC keeps moving forward—with curiosity, gentility, and just the right amount of sarcasm.