The BGSU History Department is pleased to announce a new endowed scholarship for History majors interested in pursuing internship opportunities. The Don Karl Rowney scholarship has been established in honor of Dr. Don Karl Rowney, Professor Emeritus of History, who taught at BGSU for 47 years.

Don Karl Rowney was born in Kokomo, Indiana. His earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Meinrad Seminary and his master’s and doctorate, both degrees in Russian History, were from Indiana University. In 1963, he joined the faculty in the Department of History at Bowling Green State University. Early in his career, Professor Rowney was a pioneer in the field of quantitative history and throughout his career taught graduate courses in quantitative methods.

In the 1970s, Dr. Rowney was instrumental in founding the International Council for Central and Eastern European Studies, an organization which continues to flourish. Throughout his career, he published many articles and books on Russian officialdom and bureaucracy and become known internationally for his expertise. He served the History Department in many ways, as chair of the Policy History committee, and served his students by helping them to appreciate innovative methods to understanding history through his historiography courses and through his rigorous and intellectually challenging courses in Imperial Russia, Marx and Marxism, Stalinism and State Building. He was admired for his scholarly integrity and courage, and his high standards for intellectual critical inquiry.

Dr. Rowney passed away in February, 2022, and his wife, Susan R. Carlton ’76, established this scholarship fund in his honor. You can read more about Dr. Rowney’s distinguished work with the International Council for Central and East European Studies, and you can find his obituary to learn more about his career and life.

More details about how to apply for this scholarship will be coming soon. Students who receive this scholarship will use the funds towards an internship opportunity within the History discipline, with preference given to internships focused on policy or public history. Contact our Internship Coordinator, Dr. Cheryl Dong, at cdong@bgsu.edu for more information about undergraduate and graduate student internships.