What's the measure of a great undergraduate college class? It could be when parents want to sit in along with their students.

John Black was a student at the University of Kansas during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. When classes went online, he moved back home with his parents, Julie Cheslik and Paul M. Black, of Kansas City, Mo.

John Black’s return home gave his parents a chance to watch his growing enthusiasm for his classes. He was particularly engaged in those led by Roy A. Roberts Distinguished Professor David Farber and others in the KU Department of History.

“I looked up ‘best teachers at the University of Kansas’ because I was trying to find some electives to take,” John Black said. “Dr. Farber’s name was one that came up, and that’s really what started all of this.”

Cheslik was beyond impressed with the education her son was receiving, particularly in his history classes. She even joined him in watching films during his HIST 356 class, At the Movies: U.S. History on the Silver Screen, taught by Jonathan Hagel, and delved into assigned readings for Farber’s HIST 374 class: The History of Modern American Conservatism, both of which ignited lively family discussions.

“For us, as parent and adult child — having that experience with him was really valuable to me,” Cheslik said.

Cheslik and Paul Black were already avid KU basketball fans. They also appreciated the power of a liberal arts education. Their experience with those history classes during COVID-19 was the inspiration for a $1 million gift through KU Endowment to establish the John P. Black Professorship in History. They named it for their son, who graduated in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in history. The professorship honors the faculty who inspired John Black and provides the opportunity for more students to be taught by top scholars in the field.

In August, the Department of History selected Erik Scott as the inaugural John P. Black Professor of History.

A KU faculty member since 2012, Scott is a leading scholar of modern Russia, the Soviet Union and the global Cold War whose expertise has led to appearances on MSNBC, NPR and C-SPAN. In 2023, Scott was recognized with a University Scholarly Achievement Award.

“We are delighted to draw on the generosity of the Black-Cheslik family to recognize an excellent scholar who gives so much to the KU community — and beyond,” said Laura Mielke, KU professor of English and interim chair of the Department of History.

Scott expressed his gratitude for the gift and the opportunity it presents.

“It is truly an honor to serve as the inaugural John P. Black Professor of History at KU,” Scott said. “The generous and timely gift of the Black-Cheslik family will enable me to pursue my research on the global legacies of the Cold War and offer classes that give students the historical skills and context needed to understand the world around them.”