Undergraduate Research
- “My Song is My Witness: A Holocaust Study”—Alexandra Ruilman (March 2010)
Alexandra traveled to three concentration camps in the Czech Republic and Poland
in order to gain an experiential understanding of the Holocaust. Her personal
relationship to music informed the framework of her research which focused on
the role of music for prisoners in the camps.
- “Conference: Bearing Witness: Memory, Representation and Pedagogy in the
Post-Holocaust Age, Shenandoah University, Winchester, VA”—Lauren Bartshe and
Julie Champlin (April 2009)
As a capstone to their research at Hendrix, Lauren and Julie presented research,
conducted over several years both at Hendrix and at five concentration and the
camps throughout Germany and Poland, at a conference at Shendandoah University
in Winchester, VA.
- “Medieval texts of Ezekiel in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek”--Joseph Bradley
Hayden (March 2009)
During Spring Break 2009, Joseph traveled to Washington, DC to conduct research
at the Library of Congress on Medieval manuscripts and later printings of the
Hebrew Bible. Interested in the textual differences that may arise between texts
of the Hebrew, Greek and Latin translations, he chose to look at presentations
of Ezekiel 3:1-3.
Professional and Leadership Development
- "The Jewish Service Organization: Linking Hendrix College to Conway High
School and Beyond"-- Sam Siegel (current project)
Sam continues to lead the Jewish Service Organization, a group he founded in
2009 at Conway High School to teach about Jewish culture and to create opportunities
for students to interact with each other. Siegel's project will involve the
Hendrix community with the JSO in joint service projects, dinners, movie nights
and guest lectures by professors.
- “Continuing the Journey: Internship at the St. Louis Holocaust Museum and
Learning Center”—Lauren Bartshe (Winter 2009)Lauren interned at the St. Louis
Holocaust Museum and Learning Center to learn about the logistical and ethical
challenges of presenting Holocaust related material in a larger museum setting.
- “The Complexity of Story: An Anthropological Study of Jewish Identity in
Little Rock, Arkansas” (Summer 2009)—Brigid Gogin
As part of the preliminary steps for her senior anthropology thesis, Brigid
conducted an anthropological study with Little Rock’s Reform community (at Temple
B’nai Israel) to bring her interest in identity creation to her local community.
Brigid focused on the role of storytelling within the community in the process
of conversion through personal histories and the interviewees’ relationship
to the story of Exodus.
Special Projects
- “AIPAC Policy Conference”—Leah Samuelson (March 2010)Leah attended the 2010
American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in Washington, DC to provide
greater understanding of the conflict in Israel for upcoming study abroad experience
in Israel. This project gave her an insider’s view on American foreign policy
and Israel outside of the classroom setting.
The Center will serve as an informational resource for students interested
in pursuing Odyssey projects related to Jewish Life in the South.