CAS Faculty Spotlight: OSU’s Nordic and Finnish history expert

Tuesday, February 4, 2025

Media Contact: Elizabeth Gosney | CAS Marketing and Communications Manager | 405-744-7497 | egosney@okstate.edu

Dr. Jason Lavery, an Oklahoma State University Department of History Regents Professor, is also a permanent adjunct professor at Helsinki University.

Since 1992, he has taught a summer course, "Finland Pre-History to the Present," at Helsinki Summer University, which helps students and immigrants understand Finnish culture.

“The course attracts Finnish students and immigrants who have moved to Finland,” Lavery said. “For many immigrants, the course is an important means of becoming integrated into the country. It forces me to update the course year to year because it’s important for my students, and especially the students of immigrant background, to have good, up-to-date information.”

His course attracts degree-seeking students and many non-credit listeners who attend purely out of interest. 

The course explores four fundamental themes: Finland's strategic position between Eastern and Western Europe, the evolution of state institutions, the emergence of Finnish nationhood, and the church's crucial role in Finnish society. Lavery's approach to teaching emphasizes how historical perspectives change over time, particularly when studying contemporary history. 

This corresponds with his research, contributing to a broader understanding of the Nordic region and Finland's complex historical landscape.

“Coming from another country and another academic tradition, Dr. Lavery does an excellent job in taking a critical look at Nordic and Finnish historical research and giving useful feedback to develop or at least to give a different view on many topics that have been canonized,” said Dr. Ana Lahtinen, professor of Finnish and Nordic history at the University of Helsinki. “It is very good to have scholars coming from different academic traditions, especially when it comes to people like Dr. Lavery, who are prominent in local languages.”

Lavery is the only historian at a U.S. R1 university specializing in Nordic and Finnish history. He’s published on the history of 16th-century Scandinavia and Germany, as well as the history of Finland. In addition to his scholarly and peer-reviewed articles, Lavery is currently working on his fourth book, “The Rise of Confession: Finland 1560-1611.” 

Alongside his academic accomplishments, Lavery is a research member of Finland’s Historical Association, a membership granted to those who have published quality and quantity in Finnish history. He is a corresponding member of the Finnish Literature Society, Finland’s leading institution for the study of the humanities; the title of “corresponding member” is an honor given to those outside of Finland who advance knowledge of Finland’s culture, history and literature abroad. 

On his leave this year, Lavery completed six weeks as a visiting scholar with the Finnish Literature Society, supported by a Humanities-, Arts- and Design-Based Disciplines (HAD) Grant from OSU’s College of Arts and Sciences. 

“I’m very appreciative of the support I have received from OSU and opportunities provided to me all from receiving the HAD grant,” Lavery said. 

Lavery worked closely with scholars from diverse disciplines. He said the interdisciplinary environment gave him valuable insights into his research materials since many scholars had studied the same manuscripts, letters and printed books from the 16th century but interpreted them through their lenses.

His primary goal was to finalize research for his book; he gained significant feedback and alternative perspectives on his work by presenting it to a group of experts.

Having devoted his career to studying the Nordic region and Finland, Lavery said he believes that studying history — and the humanities in general — can provide essential skills and perspectives that contribute to students' personal and professional development, helping them become more well-rounded, thoughtful and successful individuals.

Story By: Allie Putman, CAS graduate assistant | allie.putman@okstate.edu