Gratz College Insider Summer 2015
We are getting ready 
for a fabulous year!

Top Ten Reasons to    Enroll Your Teen in 
On Campus Courses or in the JOLT Online Program

New Faces at Gratz 
Laura Hughes, Assistant  to the Dean for Special Projects
Ann Sabol,
Director of Admissions
Dr. Mimi Ferraro,
Assistant Director of the Jewish Community High School
Support 
Gratz College 
every year; 
make a difference 
every day.

Please give generously to the Gratz Fund 
to support our programs.

through our 
secure website.

For information on giving opportunities and planned giving, contact 
Beth Schonberger, Director of Development 215 635-7300 x153.
Follow us on
Social Media
Connect with people, get the latest College information, or simply show the world your love for Gratz College!
Facebook logo


Fall 2015
Registration
is now open


Join us for an online 
information session.

Dear Friends,   

 

I hope you are enjoying a restful summer. Despite the allure of sun-soaked beaches, life here at Gratz is continuing at its usual bustling pace. We are currently in the midst of Summer Institute, when students descend on the campus for intensive week-long courses.

  

Gratz is also abuzz with new programming. The energy is building as we prepare to welcome students  to our new Jewish Community High School (JCHS) program this fall. We are also in the process of developing and launching new graduate programs: a Master of Science in Nonprofit Management for Faith-Based Organizations and a Master of Arts in Israel Studies, both detailed in this issue of The Insider.

  

In addition, this Insider takes a look back at the 2015 College and JCHS commencements, profiles some award-winning Gratz students and introduces you to some new members of the Gratz staff. While the enticing "Gratz Gourmet" selection will have your mouth watering, this issue will also whet your intellectual appetite with lists of summer reading suggestions.

 

Stay cool, and enjoy the rest of the summer!  

Joy's signature
Joy W. Goldstein                                  
President  
                                           
Dr. Saul Wachs
Congratulations to our Graduates  
 As it does every year, commencement came twice to Gratz this spring: first for the College, and then for the Jewish Community High School (JCHS). At the College graduation, students poised to begin their careers filed in before a crowd of adoring family, often consisting of spouses and children. At the high school graduation, students on the cusp of their college journey marched in before a sea of beaming parents. In both ceremonies, a familiar voice addressed the crowd - the voice of beloved Professor Saul Wachs, who was recognized for 40 years of service to Gratz College. Read more about both ceremonies here.
Gratz Building Gratz Launches Two New Master's Programs 
As educators, we are in the business of identifying unmet educational needs and using our expertise to develop innovative programs to fill the gap. The most exciting part of this process is the program rollout. This summer, we rolled out Gratz's new Master of Science in Nonprofit Management for Faith-Based Organizations. This fall, we will launch our new Master of Arts in Israel Studies. Read more about these exciting new programs and the unique opportunities they offer.
Dr. Sandra Lilienthal
Gratz College Alumna Wins Distinguished Covenant Award
Dr. Sandra Lilienthal is a rock star among Gratz College alumni. After earning both her master's in Jewish Studies and her doctorate in Jewish Education from Gratz, she was selected as one of three winners of the 2015 Covenant Award. This prestigious honor is granted by the Covenant Foundation to exceptional educators who distinguish themselves in the field of Jewish education. In its announcement, The Covenant Foundation describes Dr. Lilienthal as having "transformed...the face of adult Jewish education in South Florida." Read more.
Lisa Lebovitz
Lisa Lebovitz
A Big Win for Two Gratz College Students
Growing up in Franklin, Tennessee, Lisa Lebovitz remembers meeting in a bank basement or in private homes with a dozen other Jewish families because there was no synagogue in their town. Growing up in Highland Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago with a large Jewish population, Alexis Miller remembers celebrating holidays at her Reform temple. Now 
Alexis Miller
these two women of diverse backgrounds are not only both students at Gratz College, but they are also among the four individuals selected nationwide to receive substantial graduate school scholarships through the competitive Federation Executive Recruitment & Education Program (FEREP).
Laurie Fisher 
Student Spotlight on Laurie Fisher: A Southern Success Story
After two years as a Gratz Mid-Career Fellow in a dual master's program in Jewish Education and Jewish Studies, Laurie Fisher is going for an academic Triple Crown: she is now in the Gratz doctoral program in Jewish Education. Read more about her journey from teaching herself trope in Knoxville, Tennessee, to furthering her Jewish education by discovering Gratz.
Nancy Nitzberg
Library Lore
Using her librarian's eye for detail, Nancy Nitzberg loves delving into the past and making connections with the present. As director of Gratz College's Tuttleman Library, she can be found doing just that while perched at her computer or buried in the stacks. With the library's historically rich collections, Nitzberg is in the perfect place to indulge her passion. In The Insider, we will periodically share some of her discoveries with you. For one involving the Gratz Family and Franklin & Marshall College, read more.
Summer Reading Suggestions 
Since our piece on summer reading was so popular last year, we have decided to make it an annual Insider tradition. After all, there's nothing like losing yourself in a good book on a lazy summer afternoon. Read more for titles suggested by some of our Gratz professors and staff. We have also included links to other lists  of recommended books, some of which are available at Gratz's Tuttleman Library. 
The Gratz Gourmet
Our Gratz gourmet for this issue is David Cohen, a Gratz alumnus with deep-rooted transgenerational Gratz connections. Cohen graduated from the Gratz Jewish Community High School (JCHS) when it was on 10th and Tabor in Philadelphia, and his twin daughters graduated from JCHS on the Mandell Campus just last year. His mother and sister earned degrees from the College, and his wife, Mindy, is on staff at Gratz as an event coordinator. In his spare time, Cohen enjoys baking, and he shares a recipe with us here for a scrumptious dessert.