The College continued its strong programming in traditional Jewish Studies scholarship with a greatly enhanced Solomon Goldman Lecture series. Topics ranged from stem cell research to Renaissance art. The annual Norman Asher Lecture focused on the development of the Yiddish language in America, with an engaging presentation by popular author and raconteur Michael Wex, whose recent Born to Kvetch is a New York Times bestseller. We hosted a lively Jewish Book Club discussion series, led by local luminaries, of books that addressed interfaith relations, current events, and Israeli politics.

Spertus expanded its offerings in the area of Jewish culture, teaming up with Second City for "A Weekend of Jewish Humor," which included the world premiere of Jewsical: A Second City Musical. Programs on the evolving nature of Jewish arts and culture included presentations by Heeb Magazine founder Jennifer Bleyer and Rutgers University professor Jeffrey Shandler (2006 Tulsky Lecture), as well as film screenings and discussions on a range of contemporary topics. In July, Lee Bienstock, the 23-year-old runner-up on this season of the television phenomenon The Apprentice, came to discuss his experience as an observant Jew competing on reality TV.

As in the past, Spertus public programs were offered to support and expand the scope of Spertus Museum exhibitions. Acclaimed novelist Pat Conroy (Beach Season, The Great Santini, The Prince of Tides) treated a standing-room-only crowd to a riveting lecture on the influence of Anne Frank and the Holocaust on his work. The 2006 Annual Yom HaShoah Commemoration featured the Chicago premiere of the award-winning film A is for Auschwitz, a 16-year-old boy's documentation of his grandparents' Holocaust story and the impact it had on their son (his father), a prominent television sportscaster in Detroit. Both programs were related to the Spertus Museum exhibition, Anne Frank: A History for Today.

Spertus College adult education programming also addresses the area of nonprofit management. Nonprofit professionals have a unique set of professional needs. For over twenty years, Spertus has been offering programs and services to help nonprofit professionals develop much needed skills and empower them to positively impact their communities. The Center for Nonprofit Management was formed to offer a wide range of programs and services, including non-degree programming, research, and educational activities. Through this Center, Director and Associate Dean Dr. Lynda Crawford scheduled a diverse array of continuing professional education workshops and seminars.

These programs are led by a dynamic group of faculty practitioners with expertise in their respective nonprofit fields. The programs are designed to effectively meet the changing and expanding needs of today's nonprofit managers, serving as an expression of the College's strong and ongoing commitment to high-quality, practical education.

This year, attendance at our workshops was especially high, with several sessions filled to capacity. Throughout the spring and summer, workshops were offered in grantwriting, team management, and budget development. In addition, educators from around Chicago attended a special grantwriting workshop designed specifically for them. This fall, the Center will offer workshops on fundraising, program evaluation, and legal and human resource issues.

At Spertus College, we understand that, no matter how exceptional our degree programs, learning doesn't stop there. Important educational opportunities are needed for learners of all levels - in forms that stimulate their curiosity and aid their investigations of today's world. We offer important, timely, and compelling adult education opportunities, open to all. I encourage you to check the Spertus calendar of events, sign up to receive our e-news updates right to your inbox, and take advantage of these offerings whenever possible. I can assure you, as we prepare for our new building, you can look forward to an increasingly diverse range of splendid public programming. See you there!

Sincerely,

Dean Phillip Bell, Ph.D.
Dean and Chief Academic Officer