Thomas Balcerski

Thomas Balcerski is an Associate Professor of History at Eastern Connecticut State University and Director of the Center for Connecticut Studies. His research focuses on American political history, U.S. presidents and first ladies, and the history of Connecticut and New England. He earned a bachelor’s and Ph.D. from Cornell University and a master’s from SUNY Stony Brook. He authored Bosom Friends: The Intimate World of James Buchanan and William Rufus King (2019) and is working on a project about the Democratic Party’s history. Since 2024, he serves as Editor of the Connecticut History Review and holds roles with Connecticut Explored, ConnecticutHistory.org, and Connecticut Humanities.

His teaching spans Connecticut history, New England history, and American society. He has held fellowships at Occidental College and the Huntington Library. Awards include the Board of Regents Faculty Research Award (2021) and Mentor Award for Undergraduate Research (2021). He actively contributes to public history initiatives and academic boards, including the Connecticut Coalition for History and Connecticut History Day.

Recent publications explore first ladies in wartime, New York City’s political legacy, and Civil War-era politics. His work bridges scholarly research with public engagement, emphasizing Connecticut’s historical narratives and national political dynamics.