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WIU Professor Emeritus Nicholas Pano (right) was recently awarded the Nation's Honor Medal of the Republic of Albania by Albania President Bujar Nishani.
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Pano Award Albanian Medal of the Republic

November 4, 2014

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MACOMB, IL - Western Illinois University Professor Emeritus Nicholas Pano was recently awarded the Nation's Honor Medal of the Republic of Albania by Albania President Bujar Nishani.

The award was presented on Sept. 28 during a ceremony in New York, NY, while Nishani was in the United States for the Fall 2014 session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Pano, who retired from WIU in 2000 after 37 years of service, was a history professor and associate dean of the WIU College of Arts and Sciences.

The medal Pano received was given "in recognition and gratitude of [Pano's] notable support on behalf of the Albanian national cause and the democratic development of Albania." It is considered one of the most prestigious decorations given by the Albanian government.

"The award is a recognition of the role my scholarship and my interviews and commentaries in the United States and international media have played in providing information and analyses on developments in Albania and Albanian issues during the past half century," Pano said. "Secondly, it recognizes my involvement in and contributions to projects and programs sponsored by the United States and Albanian governments, as well as non-governmental agencies, in various aspects of Albanian life since the demise of the country's communist regime."

Pano is a specialist in the history and politics of Albania. He has authored one book and numerous scholarly articles on the country's history, development and political climate.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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