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Trustee Victoria B. Bjorklund to Receive France’s Highest Distinction

Victoria B. Bjorklund, IAS Trustee since 2006, will be presented with the insignia of Knight of the Légion d’Honneur, France’s most prestigious decoration, on September 10, 2025. The honor recognizes Bjorklund’s extraordinary commitment to building French-American ties through philanthropy and her remarkable service to French nonprofit initiatives.

A Face Out of Place

Rubina Raja, Member (2019) in the School of Historical Studies, explains how archaeological context can transform understanding of ancient societies. By analyzing a "loose head" from Palmyra, Syria, she demonstrates how local craftsmen were not merely imitating foreign styles but creating distinct works, fundamentally reshaping our view of Palmyra's cultural identity.