Strengthening polish-american cooperation between the Faculty of History, University of Gdańsk and Valdosta State University in 2023
The year 2023 has brought further strengthening of cooperation between the Faculty of History, University of Gdańsk and Valdosta State University, Georgia USA.
Dr. Piotr Derengowski spent the Spring Semester 2023 at the Department of History, VSU as the Louis Brown International Scholar. He taught classes on the use of board games in teaching US history and US military history, and a survey course on American History to 1877. Dr. Derengowski also presented his research in several on-campus symposiums.
During Fall Semester 2023, Dr. Magdalena Nowak is the Louis Brown International Scholar at Valdosta State University. She teaches classes on Public History in Poland, using innovative teaching methods, including board games and field trips. On Sept. 26th and 28th Dr. Nowak joined Dr. John Dunn’s class on history of Polish American relations in the 18th-20th centuries with a presentation on Solidarity 1980, the Martial Law and the fall of communism in Poland in 1989.
In February 2023, the annual Congress of the Georgia Association of Historians was held at Valdosta State University, Georgia, USA. For the first time in the history of this association, a Polish panel was held moderated by Dr. John P. Dunn from the Department of History, VSU. Presenters were: Dr. Sebastian Bartos from the Department of History, Valdosta State University; Dr. Piotr Derengowski and Dr. Magdalena Nowak from the Faculty of History, University of Gdańsk and Dr. Paulina Napierała from the Institute of American and Polish Studies, Jagiellonian University.
In May 2023, the Faculty of History hosted a group of American students as part of the "Summer Semester Study Abroad Poland 2023" lead by Dr. John Dunn from the Department of History, Valdosta State University. The organizer of the American group's stay at the University of Gdańsk was Dr. Magdalena Nowak. The coordinator of cooperation with VSU on the UG side is Dr. Anna Mazurkiewicz, Vice-Dean for Scientific Research and International Cooperation.
Prof. Dr. John Dunn is the best friend of the University of Gdańsk and Poland at Valdosta State University. He is currently preparing another group of students to visit Gdańsk. In the meantime he has shared his presentation about the University of Gdańsk with the VSU community. It can be seen here.
In October 2023, important guests from VSU will visit the Faculty of History of the University of Gdańsk - Prof. Dr. James LaPlant, Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Interim Dean of the College of Science and Mathematics, and Prof. Dr. Michael P. Savoie, the Honors College. The academic community and the authorities of the University of Gdańsk will welcome them with traditional Polish hospitality.
