East Hartford, Connecticut and Austin, Texas, may be hundreds of miles apart, but in higher education, scholars stay closely connected through the critical conversations that shape their fields. On April 19, 2025, Dr. Lisa Wiśniewski, Goodwin University faculty senate president and professor of sociology, joined Cullan Bendig, MA, MGPS, host and associate producer of The Slavic Connexion, for a thought-provoking episode of the University of Texas at Austin–based podcast.
Launched in 2019, The Slavic Connexion explores Slavic, Eurasian, and Eastern European studies through a global lens. In the episode, “Remembering the Forgotten: Eastern Europe’s Migrant Experience” Dr. Lisa Wiśniewski discusses her recent book, Navigating Education as a Forgotten Immigrant: Perspectives of the Eastern European Community.
Published by Lexington Books in February 2025, the text draws on more than a decade of research, featuring deeply personal interviews with first- and second-generation immigrants from Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Hungary, and Romania. Through these powerful narratives, Dr. Wiśniewski sheds light on educational barriers, evolving identities, and the emotional toll of assimilation, particularly among immigrant communities too often left out of mainstream conversations.
In the episode, Dr. Wiśniewski unpacks the meaning behind the word forgotten in her book’s title, underscoring the lack of visibility for Eastern European narratives in American media, education, and public discourse. A proud Polish American from New Britain, Connecticut — regionally known as “Little Poland” — Wiśniewski draws on her lived experience as the daughter of immigrants to shape her research and academic perspective. “This book is a beginning,” Dr. Wiśniewski shares. “It’s about making our communities visible and starting deeper conversations — across generations and across cultures.”
Listeners of the podcast will also learn more about the methodology behind her research, the emotional impact of sharing these immigrant stories, and how historical contexts ranging from the Iron Curtain to the modern war in Ukraine affect Eastern European identity in the U.S. today.
Goodwin University proudly celebrates Dr. Wiśniewski’s ongoing efforts to elevate underrepresented voices, foster cultural understanding, and lead meaningful conversations that bridge education, community, and global awareness.
Tune into the full episode of The Slavic Connexion featuring Dr. Wiśniewski!
Bri Gagné is a content developer at Goodwin University, bringing backgrounds in literary studies, creative storytelling, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and social justice. They earned their bachelor’s degree in English Literature, Film Studies, and Gender Studies from University of Connecticut and a master’s in Elementary Education from Eastern Connecticut State University.
After teaching English abroad and locally, Bri transitioned to a full-time writing career, contributing to the University’s educational narratives and brand-building efforts. They are currently earning their Master of Fine Arts in Popular Fiction Writing and Publishing at Emerson College.