Noteworthy: The American Council for Polish Culture presented Swan with its Distinguished Service Award for advancing the knowledge of Polish history and culture. He has taught Polish language and literature at the University of Pittsburgh for more than 40 years and published almost 20 books, including his latest, “Kaleidoscope of Poland: A Cultural Encyclopedia.”

Age: 74

Residence: Squirrel Hill

Family: Wife, Emily; son, Oscar; and daughter, Stephanie.

Education: Bachelor's degree in Russian language and literature from Princeton University; master's degree and Ph.D. in Slavic languages and literatures, University of California, Berkeley.

Background: In 2007, Swan received the University of Warsaw's Polonicum Award, which recognizes outstanding achievement in the advancement of Polish culture. In 2014, the Pittsburgh Polish Cultural Council presented him with the Polonian of the Year Award.

Quote: “It's a recognition of everything I've been doing in my career,” he said of the Distinguished Service Award. “I think this sort of thing falls to people who stay with their nose to the grindstone in a particular direction for a certain number of years and do it well and conscientiously.”

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