Student Stories

Judaic Studies students become change makers in their communities.

Judaic Studies students get excellent faculty support throughout their college career and graduate to become impactful change makers in their professional careers. Our stimulating courses and opportunities for real-world learning experiences will help you develop marketable skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and leadership.

Stories

Students share their stories of transformation during their time at PSU and update us on their accomplishments after they graduate. Scroll down to meet a few of our Judaic Studies alums.

David Remington '22:

David graduated PSU in June 2022 with a B.A. in Economics and a minor in Judaic Studies. A military veteran and an accomplished artist, David reports that his experience in the Judaic Studies Program gave him greater insight into his own Jewish heritage and the role of antisemitism in our society. He is also motivated to use his Judaic Studies education to advance social justice in our society. In 2023, David completed a certificate in animation at Don Bluth University. The program is taught personally by Don Bluth, considered "animation royalty" in the industry.

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Ezra Saville ('22)

Ezra Saville started at PSU in fall 2019 as a transfer student. A Judaic Studies major, Ezra received the Harold Schnitzer Family Scholarship and The Lois Berlin, John May, Ida & Sam Shleifer Endowed Scholarship. In 2023 Ezra goes to Gratz College, Philadelphia, for a Master of Education program in Jewish Instructional Education.

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Graham Steele ('21):

Graham Steele earned his B.A. in History with a minor in Judaic Studies. Graham served as Education Chair for CHAI at Portland State University (the Cultural Historical Association for Israel). After graduation he pursued a Masters degree in History at PSU. In 2022, he received the Emerson Fellowship for campus education and activism. As an Emerson Fellow, he promoted social justice and education regarding the Jewish community here and abroad.

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Rachael Walkinshaw ('20)

Judaic Studies Minor and Liberal Arts Major, Rachael Walkinshaw, received the Sara Glasgow Cogan Memorial Scholarship/Internship at the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education (OJMCHE) in 2018. Rachael graduated in June 2020. Currently she serves as Education Director at Shir Tikvah in Portland.

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Sarah Rohr ('20) majored in Judaic Studies and received the Harold Schnitzer Family Scholarship. She graduated in June 2020.

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Megan Olsen ('20)

After graduation Megan earned a Masters degree in Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Kean University. While in her Masters program she said, "I’m so happy to have had such a wonderful experience at PSU’s Judaic studies department because I feel so prepared for these conversations. Half of the sources we’re covering I’ve already read in one of my JST undergrad courses." Currently she is working as a social studies teacher at Immaculate Heart Academy, Washington Township, NJ.

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Logan Lawrence ('20)

During his years of study at PSU, Judaic Studies major Logan Lawrence received the Harold Schnitzer Family Scholarship and the Aspen Mitzvah scholarship for Hebrew language study.

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Maddie Marcus ('19)

Maddie has been living in Israel since graduating from PSU in 2019. Madeleine Marcus majored in Judaic Studies and received the Lorry I. Lokey Scholarship for study abroad in Israel (2018). She combined her scholarship with another program, "Reporting Live Capstone," as offered through the Education Abroad program at Portland State University. Shortly after graduation she entered the Masa Israel Teaching Fellows program. In 2022 she started a position in the advancement office of Ben Gurion University. She currently resides in Givatayim, just outside of Tel Aviv.

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Tanya (Ruchama) Huyard ('16)

After graduation Tanya Huyard worked as Production Intern at Israel Story, a podcast that is often called the Israeli version of “This American Life.” She says "I very much value my Judaic Studies degree and I’m really glad I was required to learn Hebrew. I think about it almost every day that my knowledge of Hebrew opens a door." Currently Huyard is working as Office Manager at Congregation Degel Israel in Lancaster, PA.

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Beryl Elia Bessemer ('16)

Judaic Studies alum Beryl Elia Bessemer is the Online Fundraising and Engagement Manager for 70 Faces Media, the largest Jewish media organization in North America. Previously she worked as Associate Director of Donor Stewardship at American Jewish University.

Adam (Tsvi) Josephs ('15)

After graduating in 2015 with a degree in Judaic Studies, Adam (Tsvi) Josephs went on to complete the masters program in Jewish education at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem. He currently serves as Dean of Students and middle school teacher at the Oakland Hebrew Day School in Oakland California.

Amy Albertson (‘13):

Building on her experience as the co-founder of CHAI, PSU’s student-led Israeli culture association, Amy has spent the last decade working for Jewish non-profits in Israel and the US. She has also become a prominent online Jewish advocate and educator. Amy is the recipient of the Women's International Zionist Organization (WIZO) Warrior for Israel Award and was named as one of Hadassah Magazine's "18 American Zionist Women You Should Know" in 2023. She has been published in The Times of Israel, Hey Alma, and the Jewish Journal, as well as being featured in the Jerusalem Post, the Algemeiner, JTA and on numerous podcasts. As of 2024, she is an Executive Board Member of B'Chol Lashon and an Associate at The Tel Aviv Institute. You can follow her on Instagram, Tiktok, and X at @theamyalbertson.

Judaic Studies Majors Apply for Scholars...

by author line: S. Van Amburgh, Judaic Studies |September 29, 2020

Fund your college career. Applicants for The Harold Schnitzer Family Scholarship may be entering first-year students, transfer students, or current PSU undergraduate students pursuing their B.A. in Jud...