The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), which provides higher education faculty across the nation the opportunity to broaden and deepen their engagement with the humanities, has selected Dr. Matthew Pehl, Augustana associate professor of history, to attend its summer institute, ‘Privilege and Prejudice: Jewish History in the American South.’As a two-week institute hosted by the College of Charleston in South Carolina, ‘Privilege and Prejudice’ aims to modify understandings of the entwined histories of the American South and its Jewish inhabitants. The institute will prepare college and university teachers of southern or American history to incorporate Jewish history into their courses, expose Jewish studies scholars to the geographic range of American Jewish history, and encourage public historians to showcase cultural, ethnic and religious groups in their local settings.
‘Privilege and Prejudice’ is funded by the Division of Education Programs. Participants will study common texts and other resources, visit collections in libraries and museums significantly linked to the history of this topic, which will enable faculty to integrate what has been learned back into their classrooms.
Pehl specializes in 20th century U.S. history, with a special interest in religion, race, gender, and working-class history. He was selected by the NEH through a competitive application process not only for his credentials, but also highly relevant coursework he delivers in religious pluralism, to which he can now apply this first-hand experience and convey in his teaching to students next fall.
“I’m honored to be selected for this institute,” stated Pehl. “And I look forward to bolstering my curriculum based on my participation. Pluralism is fundamental to the American experience of religion. I'm excited to bring some of these little-known stories, which so exemplify the pluralist character of American religion, in to my classes next year."
The program runs May 26 to June 7.