Contact: Mary Jane Dunlap, University Relations, (785) 864-8853.
LAWRENCE - Gerald E. Mikkelson, University of Kansas professor of Slavic languages and literatures, has received a Fulbright grant to lecture and conduct research in Russia during the 2000-2001 school term.
A specialist on 19th-century Russian poet and writer Alexander Pushkin and on contemporary Russian literature, Mikkelson has traveled to Russia previously several times with other study grants. During this academic year, he will travel with his family to St. Petersburg University, where he will be teach literature and study new Russian writers.
Mikkelson is the 235th KU faculty or staff member to receive a Fulbright award since the program was established by Congress in 1946. Proposed by the late Sen. J. William Fulbright of Arkansas, the program's purpose is to build mutual understanding between peoples of the United States and the rest of the world.
In addition, more than 350 KU students have studied and worked abroad through Fulbright scholarships, and nearly 1,000 international faculty and students have come to KU with Fulbright awards.
Diana Carlin, KU dean of the Graduate School and of International Programs, said: "Kansans can take pride in KU's large numbers of Fulbright awards and scholars. KU has a strong history of commitment to international education and the exchanges of scholars afforded through the Fulbright program continue to enrich KU, the state and our region.
"I think the outstanding numbers of Fulbright awards at KU demonstrates a commitment of faculty and students to think beyond local and national borders and at the same time attests to the university's commitment to international education."
This will be Mikkelson's third time to teach at St. Petersburg University. He was a visiting professor at St. Petersburg for spring semesters in 1993 and 1997.
Mikkelson and his wife, Margaret Winchell, have written two books of translations and analyses of Valentin Rasputin, one of Russia's greatest living authors. Their books are "Siberia on Fire," published in 1988, and "Siberia, Siberia," published in 1997. "Siberia on Fire," won two awards: the 1990 Wheatland Foundation Award for Literary Translation and the 1991 Translation Center Award for Literary translation.
Mikkelson's wife and their teenage daughter, who is fluent in Russian and will attend ninth-grade in Russia, will be joining him for the year. Winchell, who is a Slavic cataloger at KU's Watson Library, has also written, "Armed with Patience: Daily Life in Post-Soviet Russia."