Adapted from a story by Jamie Saxon, Office of Communications, on the University homepage
The Princeton University chapter of Phi Beta Kappa honored Michael Blaakman (History) with an award for excellence in undergraduate teaching on Monday, May 25.
The annual awards recognize student criteria for excellence in teaching, including skill in instruction, commitment to working with and building relationships with undergraduates, and the ability to spark students’ intellectual interests.
Blaakman specializes in the history of Revolution-era and early national America. He is a driving force in the University’s celebration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, including co-curating the exhibition “‘Nursery of Rebellion’: Princeton and the American Revolution,” on view through July 12 at Firestone Library. The Council provided additional support for the exhibit with a special grant from the Ruth and Sid Lapidus ’59 Research Fellowships Fund.
Students in Blaakman’s course “Revolution in the Archives,” which he taught in spring 2025 and spring 2026, contributed to the exhibition, conducting research on the University’s extensive collection of materials from the time of the country’s founding.
He is currently a Behrman Faculty Fellow in the Humanities Council. The program recognizes exceptional humanists as they enter the ranks of the senior faculty and provides a forum for conversation and collaboration across disciplines.
