TCU’s history department is celebrating a world-class achievement by a member of its faculty.

History professor Dr. Ken Stevens recieved a Fulbright Scholar Award and will teach at the University of Debrecen in Hungary for the fall of 2014.

The Fulbright Scholar Award allows a United States scholar to lecture abroad for either a semester or a year.

“He will spend a semester teaching and doing research in Hungary,” said Dr. Peter Worthing, history and geography department head, “building connections between scholars there and at TCU.”

Dr. Stevens currently teaches courses on American presidency, constitutional history and 19th-century America for the TCU history department. Stevens applied to teach the same subjects in Hungary.

The application process took over a year, and Stevens received the news of his acceptance on Feb. 5. He specifically applied to teach at the University of Debrecen in eastern Hungary.

“I chose Debrecen because a group of us from TCU made a university-sponsored trip to Hungary a few years ago,” said Stevens, “and we really felt a strong connection with the faculty and students there.”

To further this connection, Stevens will teach in Debrecen’s North American History program, where he will be the Laszlo Orszagh Distinguished Chair in American Studies.

Stevens will be joined by his wife, Nancy, for the duration of the trip, which will last from September to December.

“We’ll certainly miss family and friends,” he said, “but it’s a fantastic opportunity and the Hungarians are a very welcoming people.”

Stevens says he is looking forward to living in another country with so much history.

“It is a real honor for him and for the department,” said Worthing. “The Fulbright grants are highly competitive and it is a compliment to Dr. Stevens that he has been accepted into this prestigious program.”