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DURANGO— How can the lessons of reconciliation learned in Bosnia, a region deeply scarred by ethnic conflict and genocide in the 1990s, be applied to Fort Lewis College’s own reckoning with its history as a former federal Indian boarding school?

That’s what FLC Professor of History Ellen Paul, Ph. D., hopes to learn after being awarded her second prestigious Fulbright scholarship to teach and conduct research, this time in Bosnia and Herzegovina this spring semester.

“I’m really excited about how I can bring what I learn back into the classroom,” she said. “This experience will enrich my teaching and help my students better understand the complexities of history and reconciliation.”

This is the second time Paul has received an award from the Fulbright program. As a research scholar, she participated in a previous Fulbright program in the Czech Republic in the 1990s while writing her dissertation at the University of Kansas.

It also marks the second FLC professor to receive their second Fulbright this year. Earlier this year, it was announced that Justin McBrayer will spend a term in Italy, where he will teach at the University of Genoa.

Paul, an expert in the complex history of Eastern Europe, particularly communism, genocide, and nationalism, said she is eager to immerse herself in the study of reconciliation efforts in Bosnia, a region she has yet to fully explore. Her graduate studies at the University of Kansas in the 1990s, where she explored the histories of Central and Eastern Europe, laid the foundation for her interest in the Balkans. Paul will be based in Sarajevo, the capital city of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“It’s a very multicultural city,” she said. “It’s just this stew of all different religions and ethnicities.” 

Paul said her interest in Bosnia stems from the unique history of the region, particularly the complex ethnic makeup and the tragic events of the 1990s when the country was engulfed in a brutal civil war following the breakup of Yugoslavia. During that time, Bosnia became the site of Europe’s worst genocide since the Holocaust in World War II. The Bosnian War (1992-95) saw the massacre of thousands of Bosniaks, primarily Muslims, by Bosnian Serb forces.

“I really want to look at reconciliation on the ground, more than 30 years later, of inter-ethnic conflict,” she said. “How do they get along? How do they move past a really ugly period in the 90s? How have people moved forward together in the aftermath of war and ethnic violence, and even genocide?”

Paul said the Fulbright scholarship would allow her to explore these questions in depth and that she plans to learn about the experiences of young people in Bosnia who have grown up in the shadow of this history. As part of her studies, Paul said she plans to bring back what she learns to her classroom at FLC, where she has already been engaging students in discussions about genocide, nationalism, and reconciliation. Just two years ago, for instance, she co-taught a course in political science that included a study of the Bosnian genocide, and she sees clear parallels between the reconciliation efforts in Bosnia and those needed in the United States.

She said that FLC has a history that ties into themes of reconciliation and healing. Originally established as a federal Indian boarding school in the late 19th century, the college has, in recent years, been reckoning with its past and the need for reconciliation with Native communities. Paul said she sees a strong connection between the work she will do in Bosnia and the ongoing efforts on campus.

“We've been working on reconciliation with Native communities around us and at FLC the past few years, which was years overdue,” she said. “I think there are connections I can bring back to FLC.”

Paul also plans to teach at a university during her time in Bosnia and will spend the next few months refining a tailored curriculum that aligns with her goals for the experience. However, her commitment to learning and teaching about history extends beyond the classroom. In her Fulbright scholarship, she sees the importance of connecting with people and building relationships as a core aspect of her time abroad.

Paul said her extensive experience living and researching in Europe, coupled with her language skills, made her a strong candidate for the Fulbright program. Paul has lived in Europe for more than two years, conducting research and teaching, and has a deep understanding of the region's cultural and historical contexts. 

“I know Fulbright wants people who will thrive and make the most of the experience,” she said.

Looking ahead, Paul hopes to bring valuable insight to her students at FLC and establish connections that could lead to future exchanges between FLC and institutions in Europe.

“Fulbright is all about connections,” she said. “I would love to meet people who could come and teach here for a semester.”

Paul’s acceptance into the Fulbright program continues FLC’s long-standing tradition of faculty members being selected for this prestigious international opportunity. The Fulbright U.S. Scholarship Program provides over 400 awards in more than 135 countries, allowing U.S. citizens to teach, conduct research, and engage in professional projects worldwide.

As the world’s largest and most diverse international educational exchange initiative, the Fulbright Program is known for fostering cross-cultural understanding and collaboration.