Spertus periodically invites Chicago's Jewish professionals to gather with colleagues at Spertus or locations throughout the Chicago area to discuss cutting-edge issues in Jewish communal life.

On August 30, 2010, Jane Shapiro, mentor in the Spertus Master of Arts in Jewish Professional Studies program, led the conversation at Spertus with a brown-bag lunch on the topic of Jewish Work and Jewish Identity.

Jane Shapiro is a teacher, mentor, coach, and consultant for Jewish organizations and young Jewish professionals. Before founding Jane Shapiro Associates in 2003, she served as Associate Director of the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School. She has authored a variety of curricula for adult Jewish learning. Her motto is “Wisdom at Work” and she is passionate about helping people find the parts of Jewish tradition that can assist them in making their lives and their work vibrant and meaningful. A graduate of Princeton University and Columbia University, she is currently working on a doctorate in Jewish education at the Jewish Theological Seminary.