History and Social Sciences

4 alumni take the helm as school principals

Since its founding in 1889 as a normal school tasked with preparing primary school teachers, Eastern Connecticut State University has seen thousands of teaching candidates graduate to become...

Posted on January 08, 2026 by Ed Osborn

Brian Betesh ‘05 named Connecticut Teacher of the Year

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker recognized Eastern alum Brian Betesh ’05 as the 2026 Connecticut Teacher of the Year this...

Posted on December 22, 2025 by Kyle Berson '26

Davis awarded fellowship at Institute for Advanced Study
History professor will work on book manuscript in spring 2026

History Professor Bradley Camp Davis has been selected as a member of the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS), an independent theoretical research center in Princeton, NJ, for the 2025-26 academic...

Posted on October 14, 2025 by Noel Teter '24

Twin roles solidify Balcerski as a leading regional historian
Eastern faculty member named president, editor of 2 historical institutions

A faculty member in Eastern’s Department of History has recently taken major roles with two regional historical institutions. Professor Thomas Balcerski is the newly appointed president of...

Posted on June 18, 2025 by Elisabeth Craig

Moore earns Eastern’s only 2025 CSCU Faculty Award
Award recognizes exemplary research

History Professor Scott Moore is Eastern Connecticut State University’s only recipient of a 2025 Board of Regents (BOR) Faculty Award. Announced on May 30, Moore is one of three recipients...

Posted on June 11, 2025 by Noel Teter '24

Students make history at system-wide conference
Eastern hosts CSU Making History Conference

History students at Eastern Connecticut State University and visiting students from other Connecticut State Universities (CSUs) presented research at the CSU Making History Conference on March 28...

Posted on April 04, 2025 by Elisabeth Craig

Alumna Jessica Chapman ’11 wins prestigious Milken Educator Award
Chapman is Connecticut’s only 2024 recipient, one of 45 nationwide

Eastern Connecticut State University alumna Jessica Chapman ’11, a history and social studies teacher at Norwich Free Academy (NFA), was recently surprised with one of the nation’s top...

Posted on December 12, 2024 by Noel Teter '24

Eastern inducts hundreds into honor societies in spring 2024

More than 20 academic programs and departments at Eastern Connecticut State University recognized student achievements this spring 2024 semester during honor society inductions and award ceremonies.

Posted on May 16, 2024

Kirchmann publishes 'Polish American Voices'
Book recounts 400 years of Polish immigrant history

Professor Emerita Anna Jaroszyńska-Kirchmann's new book, “Polish American Voices: A Documentary History, 1608-2020," compiles 145 documents of Polish American immigrants and...

Posted on January 10, 2024 by Elisabeth Craig

Honors history students present at New England conference

The education of children in Japanese American relocation camps in the United States during World War II, and the threats posed to democracy by corporate interests near the turn of the 20th...

Posted on November 02, 2023 by Lucinda Weiss

Eastern hosts Douglass Day 'Transcribe-a-Thon'

Most people are likely to recognize Feb. 14 as Valentine’s Day. However, there is another occasion to be celebrated on this date: the birth of civil rights and anti-slavery activist Frederick...

Posted on February 16, 2023 by Noel Teter

Alumna Elaine Hill ’17 wins $25,000 Milken Educator Award

Eastern Connecticut State University alumna Elaine Hill ’17 was surprised with one of the nation’s most prestigious education awards, the Milken Educator Award, on Jan. 12 in a surprise...

Posted on January 19, 2023 by Noel Teter

History students present at Phi Alpha Theta regional conference

Eastern Connecticut State University history students Claire Lavarreda ’21 and Allen Horn ’21 presented their research at a virtual conference of the Phi Alpha Theta History Honor...

Posted on April 16, 2021

History Students Present at Phi Alpha Theta Conference

Four Eastern Connecticut State University History majors presented their projects at the history honor society’s Phi Alpha Theta New England regional conference on Nov. 23. The Phi Alpha...

Posted on November 23, 2019 by Bobbi Brown

Eastern’s Stefan Kamola Discusses New Book ‘Making Mongol History’

Eastern Connecticut State University History Professor Stefan Kamola gave a talk on his recent book “Making Mongol History: Rashid al-Din and the Jami’ al-Tawarikh” on Oct. 25,...

Posted on November 01, 2019 by Bobbi Brown

Balcerski Explores Relationship of Two 19th Century Politicians

As the nation heads towards the 2020 elections, observers have asked if America has ever elected a gay president. Some say yes. Others say no. Tom Balcerski, assistant professor of history at...

Posted on September 26, 2019 by Dwight Bachman

Eastern’s Balcerski Book Explores Male Friendships Among Politicians

Tom Balcerski, assistant professor of history at Eastern Connecticut State University, has published a book titled “Bosom Friends: The Intimate World of James Buchanan and William Rufus...

Posted on September 10, 2019 by Dwight Bachman

David Frye Interviewed for ‘History Channel’ Documentary

History Professor David Frye sat down on July 26 for an interview with producers from Onza Entertainment, who flew in from Spain to get Frye’s perspective on geo-political forces impacting...

Posted on August 08, 2019 by Dwight Bachman

Eastern Grad Accepts Digital History Fellowship at George Mason University

Manchester-native Dana Meyer ’19, a recent graduate of the history program at Eastern Connecticut State University, accepted a digital history fellowship at the George Mason University Roy...

Posted on May 29, 2019 by Bobbi Brown

Professors Davis and Graham Wrap up Spring Faculty Forum Series

Davis Presents on “An Elephant’s Eye View: Megafauna and Dominion in Southeast Asia.” Graham Discusses “The Roles of Evolving Landscapes, Ancient Waterways and Shifting...

Posted on May 07, 2019 by Dwight Bachman

Eastern Alumna Wins 2 Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards

Eastern Connecticut State University graduate LaToya Smith ’06 has been named “Young Entrepreneur of the Year” by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the New York...

Posted on May 07, 2019 by Dwight Bachman

During a Q & A, Davis referenced how Hannibal famously led an army of war elephants across the Alps as part of his war machine.

Eastern Professor Examines Role of Elephants in Southeast Asia

On April 17, Bradley Davis, associate professor of history, presented a talk titled “An Elephant’s Eye View: Megafauna and Dominion in Southeast Asia.”

Posted on April 22, 2019 by Dwight Bachman

Eastern Students Present at CSU Making History Conference

Twelve history students from Eastern Connecticut State University presented at the 2019 Connecticut State University Making History Conference on March 22. The fifth-annual conference was held at...

Posted on March 29, 2019 by Raven Dillon

Professor Davis Canton stands at the podium while he presents

Eastern Hosts Book Talk on Forgotten Civil Rights Activist

Eastern Connecticut State University welcomed Connecticut College Professor David Canton on Feb. 20 to discuss his new book, “Raymond Pace Alexander: A New Negro Lawyer Fights for Civil...

Posted on February 20, 2019 by Raven Dillon

Eastern Represents at American Historical Association Annual Meeting

Two students and three professors from Eastern Connecticut State University attended and presented research at the American Historical Association (AHA) annual meeting in Chicago, IL, from Jan....

Posted on January 10, 2019 by Michael Rouleau

Students pose in front of the Devil's Den.

History Students Visit Gettysburg National Park

A group of history students from Eastern visited Gettysburg National Military Park on Veterans Day weekend, Nov. 10-11. Students enrolled in Professor Barbara Tucker’s “Civil War and...

Posted on November 21, 2018 by Anne Pappalardo

David Frye, a history professor at Eastern Connecticut State University.

History Professor Authors Timely Book on Walls

Although they have shaped human civilization, little research has been published about walls. David Frye, a history professor at Eastern Connecticut State University, has changed that with his new...

Posted on November 16, 2018 by Raven Dillon

Scholar-Activist Speaks on ‘Forgotten’ Bangladesh Genocide

Mofidul Hoque, acclaimed scholar and founder of the Liberation War Museum, came to Eastern Connecticut State University on Nov. 7 to give a presentation titled “The Forgotten Genocide of...

Posted on November 15, 2018 by Raven Dillon

Eastern’s Canterbury and Frye Author New Books

Sociology Professor Dennis Canterbury and History Professor David Frye recently authored “Neoextractivism and Capitalist Development” and “Walls: A History of Civilization in...

Posted on September 15, 2018 by Dwight Bachman

Eastern Hosts Historical Conference

Eastern Connecticut State University hosted the New England Historical Association’s 99th Annual Fall Conference on Oct. 28 in the Betty R. Tipton Room in the Student Center.

Posted on November 01, 2017 by Anne Pappalardo

Brad Davis Examines Bandits in China

Bradley Davis, history professor at Eastern Connecticut State University, discussed his recently published book “Imperial Bandits: Outlaws and Rebels in the China-Vietnam Borderlands”...

Posted on October 03, 2017 by Jolene Potter

Eastern Announces Fulbright Student Award

Eastern Connecticut State University is pleased to announce that Quanece Williams '16 of Bridgeport, CT, has been awarded a Fulbright U.S.

Posted on April 03, 2017 by Ed Osborn

Bradley Camp Davis, assistant professor of history at Eastern

Eastern Professor Authors Book on Banditry and Borderlands

After more than a decade of research and travel throughout China and Southeast Asia, Bradley Camp Davis, assistant professor of history at Eastern Connecticut State University, has authored...

Posted on January 26, 2017 by Michael Rouleau

Eastern Faculty Create ‘Democracy at Work’

With the 2016 presidential election drawing near, politics have taken center stage at Eastern Connecticut State University. In order to generate student discussion around the election, Eastern...

Posted on October 12, 2016 by Jolene Potter

Top Eastern Students Named Barnard Scholars

Two of Eastern Connecticut State University’s top students were named Barnard Scholars on April 6 at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville, CT. The annual Henry Barnard Distinguished Student...

Posted on April 08, 2016 by Michael Rouleau