A new center at Villanova University designed to connect historical events with the major issues facing the world today is officially open.

The university announced the Lepage Center for History in the Public Interest - funded entirely by a $10 million donation, the largest in the university's history - launched in January and is being led by accomplished public historian Jason Steinhauer, who left the Library of Congress to take the job. He'll be joined by Paul Steege, an associate professor of history who is serving a three-year term as faculty director. It's located in a newly created area of the school's Saint Augustine Center. The Lepage Center's duties include managing events, research, publications and programs that bring together scholars, students, policymakers and other stakeholders to dive into the intersection of history and modern global events.

Summer institutes for teachers, training for public officials, public events and scholarly conferences are all on the table as the center's work to grow "historical consciousness" gets underway.

"We are so fortunate in having both Dr. Steege and Jason Steinhauer to lead this much-anticipated new Center of Excellence in our College," said Adele Lindenmeyr, dean of Villanova's University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, in a statement. "Dr. Steege is a highly-respected historian whose research has earned him well-deserved recognition, while Mr. Steinhauer is an innovative professional and a passionate advocate for history and scholarship with demonstrated success in creatively and engagingly sharing it with the public. With our leaders now in place, the Lepage Center for History in the Public Interest is set to begin making a tangible impact on the way the public engages with history."

Steinhauer is known for his work at the Library of Congress, the New York Historical Society, the Museum of Jewish Heritage, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He's also credited with creating the new field of study, history communication.

The creation of the center was made possible by the record-breaking gift from Albert Lepage, who graduated from the university with a degree in history and went on to become the co-chairman of Lepage Bakeries. All $10 million went into the creation of the Center for History in the Pubic Interest.

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