Recent events have heightened concern among many about tolerance for diversity in American society and at GW in particular.  The strong feelings and fears that many in our community have voiced—and the accounts of deeply troubling incidents that are now part of our daily reading—must not simply be acknowledged; they must also be taken very seriously.
 
While the History Department does not take positions on matters of partisan politics, we are very insistent on matters of principle, including those enunciated in the University's Statement on Diversity and Inclusion: “Leveraging diversity is rarely achieved by accident. As individuals and as an institution, we must intentionally act to create the diverse and inclusive community that enables everyone to flourish. All members and units of the George Washington University community must advance the institution’s commitment to diversity and inclusion as a strategic priority.”  

I write now to affirm that statement and to assure you that the History Department remains dedicated to the principles of inclusiveness and tolerance; we see them as essential to the scholarly mission of the university.
 
If you have any particular concerns that you wish to bring to our attention, please do not hesitate to contact me.  I can be reached at kschulth@gwu.edu.  I also call your attention to the message from GW’s Vice Provost Caroline Laguerre-Brown, Office for Diversity, Equity, and Community Engagement in which she says that members of our community should “know that we stand ready to support you with a variety of services should you need them." Her message contains a very helpful list of resources available to students on campus.

Katrin Schultheiss
Chair

The History Department is pleased to announce the creation of the Dr. Charles Herber Annual Scholarship. This scholarship, supported by alumnus Ron Denham '67, will be awarded to an undergraduate majoring in History with a preference for a student who is the first in their family to attend college. Providing this scholarship will help alleviate some of the financial strains facing our students, allowing the recipient to more thoroughly engage in the History curriculum and pursue their academic interests.

Dr. Charles Herber, Associate Professor Emeritus of History and International Affairs, has instilled lifelong learning in countless of his students. We are privileged to receive this support on behalf of our students and in honor of Dr. Charles Herber and his years of dedication to his students and the department.

Professor Denver Brunsman traveled to São Paulo, Brazil as a visiting professor at São Paulo State University, Campus Franca. He gave the inaugural lecture entitled "Pirates vs. Press Gangs: The Battle for the Atlantic" to open a new term for the university's graduate program in history and also taught a week-long graduate course on "The American Revolution in Atlantic Context." 

The Department of History welcomes applications for grants to fund research in the parks, archives, and collections of the National Capital Region of the National Park Service. The NPS Research Grants will be awarded in the amount of $250.00 to GW undergraduate and graduate students on a rolling basis during the spring semester and summer terms of 2017. The grants are made available through a generous donation by Frances Kennedy in memory of her husband Roger G. Kennedy, director of the National Park Service from 1993 to 1997. Submissions should be sent to Denver Brunsman (brunsman@gwu.edu). More information and application here. 

The History Department hosted a quadruple book launch honoring the recent releases of Diane Cline's book The Greeks: An Illustrated History (National Geographic), Dane Kennedy's two publications, Decolonization: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press) and How Empire Shaped Us (Bloomsbury Publishing), and the new edition of  Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels' book, The Civil War in the United States (International Publishers), edited by Andrew Zimmerman. Congratulations, Professors Cline, Kennedy, and Zimmerman, on these exciting achievements! 

Chief Strategist for the Bernie Sanders for President Campaign Tad Devine spoke on "How to Break into Politics with a Degree in History" on Wednesday, Nov. 2. He discussed the skillsets he learned as a history student and how they have served him throughout his 35-year career in political campaigns. 

Professor Jisoo Kim's tireless efforts have resulted in GW's being awarded a major five-year Core University Grant by the Academy of Korean Studies (AKS), a division of the Ministry of Education, Republic of Korea. This grant will enable the university to establish the GW Institute for Korean Studies (GW-KIS). It will also fund conferences, workshops, lecture series, graduate fellowships, adjunct teaching, summer programs, Korean collection cataloging, staff support, and outreach. The new institute will be housed at the Elliott School. Thank you for making this incredible opportunity possible, Professor Kim!