Dr. Daniella Farah joins Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership as Assistant Director of Jewish Studies.
Spertus Institute is delighted to welcome Dr. Daniella Farah as the new Assistant Director of Jewish Studies. In this role, Dr. Farah will oversee our Masters and Doctoral programs in Jewish Studies, advise students, and guide the strategic growth and direction of the programs.
Dr. Farah brings to Spertus Institute over 13 years of experience in teaching, advising, administration, and research in the higher education sphere. With a PhD in Jewish History from Stanford University, her research has focused on interreligious encounters, national belonging, and Jewish identity formation in the modern Middle East, particularly in Iran and Turkey. After earning her doctorate, Dr. Farah served as a Postdoctoral Fellow in Jewish Studies at Rice University and a Visiting Assistant Professor of History & Jewish Studies at the University of California, Irvine.
Outside of academia, Dr. Farah has partnered with many Jewish nonprofits including the World Jewish Congress and the Chicago-based Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, gaining meaningful experience in Jewish communal life through consulting and volunteer roles.
“I’m thrilled and honored to be joining the stellar team at Spertus Institute, where I look forward to contributing to its mission of providing diverse communities with high-quality Jewish education that bridges rigorous academic scholarship with real-world application,”
Dr. Farah shared. “I am especially excited to help shape programs that make Jewish learning even more accessible and relevant to the communal and professional needs of today’s students.”
In her free time, she enjoys hiking, baking, doing jigsaw puzzles, spending time with her daughter and husband, and exploring Chicago’s many neighborhoods.”
Spertus Dean and Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Keren Fraiman shared that “Jewish studies have always been central to the mission of Spertus. Over the past few years, we’ve seen significant growth in our programs, underscoring the enduring relevance and importance of this field. I am confident that Dr. Farah will bring expertise, collegial spirit, and a forward-thinking vision to this work. We look forward to her leadership as we shape the present and future of Jewish studies at Spertus. We are truly thrilled to welcome her to our dynamic team!”