The Center has continued to hold many events online, such as lectures, teacher workshops, online courses, and meetings. Additionally, we have increased our online newsletter publication and Dr. Sarah Valente, Visiting Assistant Professor, has initiated the production of high-quality podcasts that have been hugely successful, attracting more than 500 listeners.
Dr. Roemer also highlighted the work of Dan Dunham, a PhD student and student representative on the Ackerman Center Advisory Board, who was selected for a summer internship with the Tulsa Jewish Federation in which he helped to curate an exhibit covering nearly 2,000 years of anti-Semitism.
“With challenges come new opportunities for growth,” Dr. Roemer said. Online learning initiatives have extended opportunities to include students beyond Dallas. Dr. Roemer added that the success of the Ackerman Center can also be seen in faculty growth. Two Visiting Professors, Dr. Pedro Gonzalez and Dr. Sarah Valente were hired last fall. During the town hall, he welcomed our new Assistant Professor in Holocaust and Human Rights Studies, Dr. Amy Kerner, who is the Fellow of the Jacqueline and Michael Wald Professorship in Holocaust Studies.
Dr. Kerner is a historian of Modern Europe and Latin America with a particular interest in transnational history, the Holocaust, modern Jewish culture, comparative political violence, and cultural histories of migration and displacement. She is currently working on a book project concerning the history of modern Yiddish culture in Argentina before and after the Holocaust.
Dr. Roemer asked everyone to save the date for the virtual celebration of Dr. Ozsváth's remarkable career that is being held on August 30th (more details below and on the Ackerman Center events website).
In addition to these valuable additions to the Ackerman Center faculty, Dr. Roemer reminded listeners that the Ackerman Center also recently added a fifth endowed faculty position and is honored to welcome three new Advisory Board members: Mark Chazanow, Nina Cortell and Steve Gundy.
The generosity of our supporters and the foresight of our Advisory Board who have been building a robust and sustainable center over the past 30 years is allowing us to continue to grow during these challenging times”, he said. It is in times like these that "we can really see the collective wisdom that has built the Ackerman Center,” explained Dr. Roemer.
Holly Hull Miori, Director of Development and Alumni Relations, thanked our supporters for their generosity and reiterated that the growth and development of the Ackerman Center during this difficult time is only possible because of them.
