The College of Arts and Sciences: A Place for Pulitzers

Once a year, at the end of the Spring semester, the Department of History hosts a Phi Alpha Theta Honors Society induction event, with a lecture, dinner and celebration students and their research. This year, inductees had the honor of hearing an acclaimed historian Benjamin Nathans of the University of Pennsylvania talk about his recent book, To the Success of Our Hopeless Cause: The Many Lives of the Soviet Dissident Movement, which won the 2025 Pulitzer Prize just days after his Seton Hall appearance. 

The evening began with the induction of new student members of Phi Alpha Theta, an organization of faculty, undergraduates and graduates who promote the study of history,  followed by Nathans’ lecture, which captivated the audience for over 40 minutes. His exploration of Soviet dissent, particularly the role of a small group of courageous individuals resisting the totalitarian regime through literature and activism, sparked a lively discussion among attendees. Nathans emphasized how these individuals, though seemingly powerless, made a profound impact on society by challenging the oppressive system from within.
The lecture resonated deeply, especially in today's context, with the war in Ukraine and with academic freedom facing challenges. Nathans' work serves as a reminder of the importance of intellectual courage and the enduring power of truth in the face of authoritarianism.

Following the lecture, attendees gathered for dinner, reflecting on the insights shared and the relevance of Nathans' message to contemporary issues. The event not only celebrated academic achievement but also underscored the vital role of historians in preserving and interpreting the complexities of our past and also having an impact on our present through that work. This memorable evening highlighted the enduring value of scholarship and the courage to confront injustice, leaving attendees inspired to reflect on the responsibilities of both individuals and societies in upholding freedom and truth.

The College of Arts and Sciences routinely welcomes prestigious award-winning speakers. Just last month, Seton Hall hosted the Mid-Atlantic Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, a major chemistry conference drawing hundreds of researchers, teachers, students and industry leaders to campus, and along with them Nobel-Prize-winning chemist Morten Meldal. Meldal is renowned for his pioneering work in click chemistry, particularly his development of the copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction. He won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry with Carolyn Bertozzi and Barry Sharpless in 2022. Speakers like Nathans and Meldal remind faculty and students about the larger societal impact of their research and the importance of reinvesting in learning. The College promotes hands-on research in all fields, from humanities like history to the social and physical sciences and technology. 

To learn more about the robust Department of History in the College of Arts and Sciences and the unique opportunities for learning, research and career advancement contact Department Chairperson, Professor Maxim Matusevich ([email protected]). 

Categories: Arts and Culture, Research