Congratulations, Dr. Puicón!
This past weekend, our esteemed professor, Dr. Jazmín Puicón, was honored with the Beveridge Family Teaching Award at the annual conference of the American Historical Association (AHA). This prestigious international award ceremony (as evidenced by the list of award recipients!) recognized her as the only K-12 teacher celebrated at the event. To earn this accolade, she gathered letters of support from Bard, the Newark Board of Education, a community partner in Newark, and former students.
Dr. Puicón shares that it was an amazing experience. Photos from the formal ceremony feature Dr. Ben Vinson III, the President of the AHA, alongside Dr. Lonnie Bunch, the President-elect of the AHA and Secretary of the Smithsonian. Dr. Bunch was among her most enthusiastic supporters in the audience, expressing his pride in seeing Newark, NJ, represented at the AHA in such a remarkable way. He was especially delighted that she received the award for her course, Innovative Newark, which amplifies the voices and solutions of the city’s youth.
Founded in 1884 and incorporated by Congress in 1889 for the promotion of historical studies, the American Historical Association provides leadership for the discipline and promotes the critical role of historical thinking in public life. As the largest membership association of historians in the world, the AHA serves historians in a wide variety of professions, and represents every historical era and geographical area.
Established in 1995, this prize honors the Beveridge family’s long-standing commitment to the AHA and K–12 teaching. Friends and family members endowed this award to recognize excellence and innovation in elementary, middle school, and secondary history teaching, including career contributions and specific initiatives. The prize will be awarded on a two-year cycle rotation: in even-numbered years, to a group; in odd-numbered years, to an individual.