Fred Fausz, associate professor of history at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, was recently elected president of the Center for French Colonial Studies. Founded in 1983, the center supports scholarly research and public awareness of French history and culture in 17th and 18th century America, especially along the Mississippi River.

“The center has stimulated that flourishing field,” Fausz said. “I am honored to follow in the footsteps of Ruth Bryant, whose leadership as president nurtured the growth of the organization.  I hope to build on that legacy and to promote the prominent role of St. Louis as the last officially-authorized French colony in North America.”

An internationally renowned scholar of early American history, Fausz has conducted extensive research on French Creole culture in the Mississippi valley, the Lewis and Clark expedition and era, and colonial America. His next book, “Auguste Chouteau and the Founding of St. Louis” will be published in late spring. In addition, Fausz will teach a graduate course on colonial French America in during the spring 2010 semester.

The Center for French Colonial Studies is based at North Central College in Naperville, Ill. Visit http://depts.noctrl.edu/cfcs/ for more information about the center.