Honored to be Named the Sklut Professor of Jewish Studies at Queens University

QUEENS RECEIVES $1 MILLION TO ESTABLISH PROFESSORSHIP OF JEWISH STUDIES

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (September 25, 2017) – Thanks to the generosity of Lori and Eric Sklut, a $1 million endowed fund has been established for the Sklut Professorship in Jewish Studies at Queens University of Charlotte. Through this professorship, Queens will retain and attract distinguished faculty specializing in Jewish Studies. Rabbi Judy Schindler, associate professor of Jewish Studies at Queens, will be the inaugural holder of the professorship.

In 2007, Lori and Eric Sklut, with Lori’s parents Leon and Sandra Levine of the Leon Levine Foundation, established their first professorship, the Levine-Sklut Distinguished Professorship in Jewish Studies for the Carolina Center for Jewish Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 2012, Lori and Eric Sklut established the Lori and Eric Sklut Emerging Scholar in Jewish Studies at Elon University.

“We are honored and grateful to be the beneficiary of Lori and Eric’s investment in our work,” said Queens President Dr. Pamela Davies. “This gift will help faculty, whose teaching of Jewish history and culture enriches our Jewish Studies program. We are a campus committed to interfaith understanding.”

The Jewish Studies program at Queens was established in 2013 to examine Jewish identity, culture, and beliefs through a broad range of courses covering history, political science, international affairs, religion and theology, ethics, philosophy, sociology, pop culture and more. In its continued commitment to interfaith understanding, Queens has hired a director of Jewish Life, established a student Hillel group, and opened the Stan Greenspon Center for Peace and Social Justice.

“We admire Queens’ efforts of inclusion and cultural diversity, attracting students and faculty from different backgrounds, ethnicities and national origins,” said Lori and Eric Sklut. “We are excited to be in a position to endow this professorship for the university. Our trust in the leadership of Queens and their enthusiasm to embrace Jewish Studies is immeasurable. We know that embracing Jewish studies, traditions, culture and history can be an enriching experience for anyone with an open mind. We look forward to seeing how this significant step will lift Queens as it seeks to broaden its offerings and expand its reach.”

ABOUT QUEENS UNIVERSITY OF CHARLOTTE
Nestled in a historic neighborhood just minutes from Uptown Charlotte, Queens has been providing students with transformational experiences for more than 155 years. A private, masters-¬level university, Queens serves more than 2,300 students in academic programs across the liberal arts and sciences as well as the professional fields of business, communication, nursing, health and education. With the city of Charlotte as an extended campus, students have the opportunity to launch into abundant internships, community service and academic partnerships. The majority of undergraduates also study internationally during their time at Queens. Queens is a unique learning environment that doesn’t ask students to choose between ideals and interests. Students are invited to be both, be more – and in so doing, leave their own mark on history.

ABOUT THE LEVINE-SKLUT FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Levine-Sklut Family Foundation is guided by Lori and Eric Sklut and their family and seeks to improve the human condition by collaborating with organizations and supporting initiatives in the following areas: Charitable causes in the faith community including but not limited to Jewish institutions and organizations; educational institutions in pursuit of academic excellence; Human Service Agencies who serve the needy; healthcare institutions including research for cures for cancer and mental illness; and children’s services.