
Faculty earn NEH honors for religious history, art history research
Aaron Hughes and Peter Christensen have each been awarded National Endowment for the Humanities fellowship grants.

An academic understanding of hate
Listening to the news, it can feel as though acts of violence—particularly violence inspired by bigotry and hate—are on the rise, and unfortunately the numbers back that up. How are we to make sense of this rise? Three Rochester researchers sat down for an academic conversation about hate and intolerance, discussing reactions to recent incidents of hate, important lessons from history, and the psychology of stereotypes and intolerance.

Gift from Alan ’66 and Jane Batkin establishes professorship in Jewish studies
In recognition of her scholarship and teaching acumen, Nora Rubel has been named the inaugural holder of the Jane and Alan Batkin Endowed Professorship in Jewish Studies.

QuadCast: Transparent actor, producer, academics visit Rochester
Nora Rubel, director of the Susan B. Anthony Institute for Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies, discusses the upcoming symposium on Transparent which the institute — now in its 30th year — is hosting.

Sharon Briggs receives Messinger award for library service
Briggs, who celebrated her 50th anniversary with River Campus Libraries last September, has served as the head of River Campus Libraries’ acquisition department, helping students, faculty, and staff access appropriate scholarly resources that support teaching and research.

Sykes-Picot and the making of the modern Middle East
As the accord turns 100 years old, Aaron Hughes, professor of Jewish studies, weighs in on the impact the secret accord that established political control of territories in the Middle East among Great Britain, France, and Russia after World War I. / The Conversation

Scholars to discuss ‘Transparent’ at first academic conference
In December, the Susan B. Anthony Institute for Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies will host a conference examining the nexus of sex and gender studies, Jewish studies, American studies, and media studies themes that run through the show.

Melissa Mead receives 2015 Messinger Award for outstanding service as University archivist
The photographs, texts, recordings, and additional items that fill the University Archives paint a full picture of the University of Rochester’s 165-year history. Few know this history better—or are more familiar with these materials—than Melissa Mead.

Kathy Metz receives 2014 Messinger Award for leadership in patron services
As head of patron services in Rush Rhees Library, Kathy Metz has helped redefine how students and faculty access library services and resources. Her ingenuity and leadership have earned her the 2014 Messinger Libraries Recognition Award.

New Hillel Leader Named
Rabbi Michael Silbert is no stranger to the Hillel foundation, having served in a development role at the Boston University Hillel and most recently as executive director of the Vancouver Hillel Foundation.