ULM history scholars awarded distinguished grants to study in Poland

Published May 1, 2026

Chris Blackburn and Ewa Blackburn with ULM logo

CAPTION:听Dr. Chris Blackburn (left) is听a Professor of History at ULM. His wife,听Ewa Blackburn听(right),听is听an Adjunct History Instructor and is听currently pursuing an Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction at ULM.听听

MONROE, La.听鈥撎�Husband and wife Dr. Chris Blackburn and Ewa Blackburn have once again been awarded scholarships for advanced language study by the prestigious Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA). Dr. Blackburn is a Professor of History听in听the ULM College of Arts, Education, and Sciences. Ewa Blackburn, a graduate of the ULM M.A.听program in History, serves as an Adjunct History Instructor and is an Ed.D. Candidate in Curriculum and Instruction at ULM.听
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Funded under the NAWA Summer Courses program, the scholarship听provides for听all instruction, accommodation, full board, and a stipend. This summer, the听Blackburns听will attend the School of Polish Language and Culture at the University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland. The intensive, in-person program听operates听seven days a week with a rigorous schedule of classes, lectures, and cultural events.听

"I was happy to learn that the听Blackburns听have been invited to further their studies in Poland,鈥� said Dr. Jeffrey Anderson, Director of the ULM History program. 鈥淭heir record as scholars and instructors speaks for itself, and it is great to see them honored in a way that will also help them further hone their language skills and research."听

Established in 2017, NAWA is dedicated to fostering international collaboration and promoting Polish language and culture abroad. These efforts are designed to enhance the international standing of Polish academic institutions and researchers. In addition to their formal language studies, the听Blackburns听plan to听utilize听their time in Poland to conduct archival research in both Warsaw and Katowice.听

This marks the second year that the听Blackburns听have been chosen by NAWA to study in Poland. You can read more about their first experience here:听ULM professor and wife awarded NAWA scholarships.听听
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