Slovak Studies Association

Connecting scholars of Slovakia with one another and the world

Lifetime Achievement Award: M. Mark Stolarik

M. Mark Stolarik received the Slovak Studies Association
Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024.

M. Mark Stolarik has played an essential part in the success of the Slovak Studies Association as not only a founding member but, as stated in Owen Johnson’s chronicle of the Slovak Studies Association, “Mark Stolarik was the driving force behind [the creation of the SSA in 1976].”1 Stolarik served the association for many years since its inception and currently
edits the annual newsletter.

M. Mark Stolarik

Stolarik has published widely in addition to his service on behalf of Slovak studies. The following works stand out for their detailed examination of Slovak immigration and historical contributions, reflecting both breadth and depth in their subject matter.

  • Editor, The Czech and Slovak Republics: Twenty Years of Independence, 1993-2013 (Budapest: Central European University Press, 2016).
  • Author, Where is My Home? Slovak Immigration to North America, 1870-2010 (Bern: Peter Lang, 2012).
  • Author, Immigration and Urbanization: The Slovak Experience, 1870-1918 (New York: AMS Press, 1989).

As holder of the Chair in Slovak History and Culture at the University of Ottawa and longtime editor of the academic journal Slovakia, Stolarik’s contributions to Slovak studies are significant. Beyond that, his colleagues not only in North America but also in Slovakia have recognized his accomplishments . We would like to name just a few here:

  • Daniel Rapant Award from Matica slovenská, Martin, Slovakia, and Rector’s Memorial Medal from Sts. Cyril and Methodius University, Trnava, Slovakia (2023)
    These prestigious awards from Slovakia recognize significant contributions to historical scholarship and academia. Receiving two notable honors in the same year highlights Stolarik’s exceptional impact in his field.
  • Medal of the President of the Slovak Republic (2002)
    This high-level national recognition underscores Stolarik’s outstanding influence on the furtherance of Slovak history and culture, signifying his influence beyond academia and into national heritage and diplomacy.
  • Long-standing Chairholder in Slovak History and Culture at the University of Ottawa (1992-2022)
    Stolarik’s thirty-year tenure as Chairholder at the University of Ottawa demonstrates not only academic leadership but also a sustained commitment to advancing Slovak history and culture internationally.

Professor Stolarik’s scholarly work and dedication to the Slovak Studies Association has had a lasting impact on area studies. The 2024 SSA Lifetime Achievement Award is a testament to his extraordinary career and his efforts to advance academic excellence among scholars of Slovakia. The members of the Slovak Studies Association are proud to count Professor Stolarik among its first Lifetime Achievement Award recipients.

  1. The Czechoslovak History Conference na začátku [at the beginning],” The Czech & Slovak History Newsletter 36, no. 1 (Spring 2013), 9-20. Reprinted at czechoslovakstudies.com/?page_id=142. ↩︎