Next-level learning
Published:
Following an international search, Central Connecticut State University (Central) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Karolina Kołpak as the next Stanislaus A. Blejwas Endowed Chair in Polish and Polish American Studies. She will join Central’s history department this fall.
Kołpak brings an impressive record of scholarship, teaching, research, and a commitment to an interdisciplinary and inclusive approach to Polish, Polish-American, and Polish-Jewish studies. She earned her doctorate in History from Yale University in 2024, specializing in Modern Eastern Europe and Russia. Her dissertation, A Microcosm of Civic Action: The Kolonie Letnie for Warsaw’s Frail and Impoverished Children, Christian and Jewish, 1882–1922, examined grassroots civic engagement and intercommunal cooperation in late imperial Poland. Her doctoral research was supervised by Professor Timothy Snyder.
“Dr. Kołpak’s appointment as the Stanislaus A. Blejwas Endowed Chair marks an exciting new chapter for Polish and Polish American Studies at Central,” said Dr. Zulma R. Toro, president of Central Connecticut State University. “Her impressive body of work and commitment to inclusive research will build on the proud legacy of this program and enrich our academic community.”
In addition to her academic research, Kołpak has taught courses in Polish and Jewish history, including an undergraduate seminar “The Jewish Metropolis: Warsaw Before the Holocaust” at Yale. Her scholarly contributions include peer-reviewed publications, book introductions, and public commentary in both English and Polish, all with a focus on historical memory and cultural identity. Beyond academia, she has worked closely with migrant and refugee communities in Poland and has helped organize humanitarian initiatives supporting scholars at risk.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Kołpak to Central” said Dr. Kimberly Kostelis, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Central. “Her interdisciplinary scholarship, multilingual expertise, and deep community engagement align perfectly with our mission to promote global understanding and historical awareness.”