Two of the departments doctoral students have been profiled in AtLAS, the quarterly on-line publication of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Sixth-year student Jochen Arndt explains how his dissertation research into the Xhosa people of South Africa funded by the Social Science Research Council sent him on a journey from research sites in Great Britain to archives in South Africa. AtLAS also profiles fourth-year student Michal Witczewski, who recently won a Fulbright fellowship for his dissertation research into the social conditions of rural Poland in the aftermath of World War I.
Associate Professor Jennifer Brier and her team of co-conspirators just won a $20,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts for their revolutionary project, History Moves, a museum on wheels, a "moveable feast that both gathers and shares the history of Chicagos vibrant communities and neighborhoods." Congratulations Jennie!
Several hundred historians rose in unison on Saturday, vigorously applauding the announcement that the Organization of American Historians (OAH) had awarded its 2013 Roy Rosenzweig Distinguished Service Award to UIC's very own John DEmilio. The award goes to an individual whose contributions have significantly enriched our understanding and appreciation of American history, and the list of past winners is a veritable whos who of the profession: C. Vann Woodward, John Hope Franklin, Gerda Lerner, Gary Nash, Joyce Appleby, and more. John now joins that list. Congratulations!
C-Span brightened up University Hall a few weeks ago, taping one of Prof. Robert Johnston's graduate seminars in American history. The seminar, on the Populist movement, first aired in late March and can be found here: http://www.c-span.org/History/Events/Lectures-in-History-1890s-American-Populist-Movement/10737438842/
Robert Remini, 91, professor emeritus of history, an award-winning biographer and former official historian for the U.S. House of Representatives who taught at UIC since 1965, died March 28 at Evanston Hospital after a stroke. For more, click the title above.
Congratulations to Professor Zinon Papakonstantinou, who has just been awarded a "Humboldt-Forschungsstipendium für erfahrene Wissenschaftler" ("Humboldt Fellowship for Experienced Researchers"). This competitive international fellowship will allow him to spend the next three summers at the University of Hamburg.
Professor Barbara Ransby's new book, "Eslanda: The Large and Unconventional Life of Mrs. Paul Robeson," has been getting a lot of media attention. She appeared on "Democracy Now!" and she will appear on MSNBC's "Melissa Harris-Perry" program.
Professors Robert Johnston and Kevin M. Schultz have both been recognized for their outstanding instructional performance by UIC's Council for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. The Council selected 14 out of UICs 383 faculty members for recognition this year, and the Department is delighted to have two of them.
Leon Fink, UIC Distinguished Professor of History, has just been named Researcher of the Year in the Humanities at UIC. The Researcher of the Year Awards recognize the efforts and commitment of researchers who have demonstrated outstanding research achievements to advance the knowledge in their field of expertise. There is one award given in the field of Humanities each year. Congratulations Leon!
Jim Searing, Professor of History at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he taught since 1992, died unexpectedly on December 3. Searing, who specialized in African History and served as Chair of the UIC Department of History from 2005-2010, will be missed greatly for his sense of humor, his deep intellect, and his commitment to the Department and the University. Professor Searing is survived by his wife Patricia Hickling and three children, and will be missed by all who knew him.