Ian Simpson Ross received his BA in English Language and Literature from the University of St. Andrews (1954), a BLitt from Oxford (1956), and a PhD from the University of Texas (1960). Ross taught in the English Department at the University of British Columbia, where he rose through the ranks and eventually served as Head of Department for ten years (1982-91) shortly before retiring as Professor Emeritus in 1993. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.