Category: Humanities and Social Sciences
Read the Fall/Winter edition of Brandeis MagazineNov. 6, 2020The latest edition of Brandeis Magazine features a deep dive into campus life during the pandemic, insights into the fight against racism, and news and updates about the university.
Social media is feeding the anti-vaccination movementNov. 3, 2020Research shows U.S. adversaries like Russia are pedaling fake health propaganda on sites like Twitter and Facebook.
'Writing is power, but it is also a form of love:' A Q&A with writer in residence Grace TalusanNov. 3, 2020Fannie Hurst Writer in Residence Grace Talusan's stories seem made for this moment, and they are being recognized for it.
How does a nation divided against itself stand? Thinking about the US through ancient AthensOct. 29, 2020Classical studies professor Joel Christensen examines the lessons that can be taken from Athens at the end of the Peloponnesian War.
How has the Trump administration changed labor protections?Oct. 29, 2020Heller School dean David Weil explains how labor protections have been systematically rolled back.
Where do we see medieval tropes this election season?Oct. 28, 2020They range from the expected to the absurd to the rhetorically complex. Professor Dorothy Kim explains.
Why the Jewish vote mattersOct. 26, 2020From at least as far back as the election of Abraham Lincoln, political pundits in America have speculated about the “Jewish vote” and its impact.
How has Trump weakened the Affordable Care Act and how can it be strengthened?Oct. 26, 2020The ACA has been damaged by regulatory efforts, executive order and legislative action. Michael Doonan explains what could be done to restore it.
Is today more reminiscent of the 1930s than 1960s?Oct. 26, 2020For a while, the unrest of 2020 revived memories of 1968. But to.historian Paul Jankowski, the apt parallel is the 1930s.
What are Russia’s goals with disinformation on social media?Oct. 22, 2020Over the last decade, the growth of social media has gone hand in hand with the increasing use of those platforms for the coordinated dissemination of disinformation. Professor Steven Wilson explains.
How does Trump use coded language to speak to his base?Oct. 20, 2020Donald Trump and his base often act as if they have their own signals, interpreting the same presidential utterances in very different ways from his critics. Professor Janet McIntosh explains.
For election insight, Brandeis literature professors recommend these novelsOct. 19, 2020Three professors of literature each select an apt book to read for this moment in history.
What will it take to make COVID-19 vaccines globally available?Oct. 16, 2020Vaccines are the global bet for a return to normalcy, but they will requires global cooperation, transparency, empathy and a deep sense of social justice.
What can TV ads tell us about partisan polarization?Oct. 15, 2020Lucy Goodhart, a lecturer in international and global studies and politics, researches the connections between polarization and political advertisement on television.
Popular new course sheds light on Latina/x feminismOct. 15, 2020A new course explores the literature, art, self-expression and personal histories of Latina/x feminists across a wide array of identities, including Chicana, Dominican American, Cuban American, Salvadoran American and Puerto Rican.
Could the Jewish vote decide the election?Oct. 8, 2020Researchers at the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies and Steinhardt Social Research Institute break down the places where Jewish voters could swing the election.
How the Access Hollywood tape affected the 2016 electionSept. 30, 2020Associate professor of politics Jill Greenlee and her colleagues looked at how the infamous video affected Republicans and women.
What the Greek classics tell us about grief Sept. 29, 2020In the Greek classic “The Iliad,” the expectation of proper lamentation, burial and memorial emerges clearly as a universal right. Professor Joel Christensen explains.
Building a guide for exploring research and learning in WalthamSept. 22, 2020Sophie Trachtenberg ’21 and Simona Shuman ’22 led a new project that aims to support students, faculty and staff who want to learn more about and engage with Brandeis' home city.
Brandeis honors Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, H’96Sept. 18, 2020Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg visited Brandeis twice after being confirmed to the nation’s highest court in 1993.
Why the ‘Protocols of the Elders of Zion’ is still pushed by anti-SemitesSept. 2, 2020Professor Emeritus Stephen Whitfield explains how the century-old anti-Semitic hoax has endured.
Decades in the making, women's, gender and sexuality studies is now a departmentAug. 31, 2020Like many pioneering academic programs created over the past decades, women’s studies at Brandeis struggled to win recognition and acceptance. Founded in 1975, it is now officially its own department.
Maria Madison appointed director of Heller School's Institute on Assets and Social PolicyAug. 21, 2020Madison, who will continue in her role as associate dean for diversity, equity, and inclusion at Heller, succeeds professor Thomas Shapiro in leading the IASP. She begins her new role Sept. 1.
The curiosity factorAug. 14, 2020Jason Frank '22 launched an anthropology research study into American comedy.
Recalling 'Books in Dark Times'July 27, 2020Since COVID-19 became a global pandemic, professors John Plotz and Elizabeth Ferry have focused their podcast on a common theme: “Books in Dark Times.”
Remembering Rep. John Lewis, H'98, at BrandeisJuly 23, 2020Representative John Lewis, H'98, made a captivating appearance at Brandeis in 2014 to discuss race, Judaism and social justice in America without even setting foot on campus. Professor Thomas Doherty recalls the event.
What’s really making the NFL's Washington team change its name?July 17, 2020Heller School for Social Policy and Management Senior Lecturer Michael Appell discusses corporate social responsibility and what it means for institutions like the NFL's Washington franchise.
Herbert PhD'26, Khilji '20 named Fulbright ScholarsJuly 17, 2020
‘Gust off the Glacier’: Prof. Elizabeth Bradfield embarks on a richly creative exploration of AntarcticaJuly 9, 2020Bradfield's “Toward Antarctica” is a collection of poems, prose, footnotes and photographs that focus on Antarctica.
Chaplaincy Innovation Lab awarded grant to support frontline spiritual care providersJuly 2, 2020The lab, founded by Brandeis professor Wendy Cadge, has received a $500,000 grant from the Henry Luce Foundation.
Brandeis professor develops tool to help laid off Canadians determine severanceJuly 1, 2020Professor Jonathan Touboul and his collaborators in Canada used artificial intelligence to predict monetary awards in employment disputes. They've now made their program available to the public.
‘Their Great Soul-Hungering Desire Was Freedom’June 26, 2020Historian Abigail Cooper studies how African Americans living in Civil War-era refugee camps imagined — and constructed — their futures after slavery.
Podcast series examines queer history at BrandeisJune 17, 2020Developed by Jay Collay '22, the series features three episodes, each with a different theme.
Reckoning with another dangerous time for Black people in AmericaJune 15, 2020Four Brandeis professors explored the complex intersections of history, politics, the law, race and white supremacy in a panel discussion last week.
Professor Karen V. Hansen awarded Voices for Economic Opportunity Grand Challenge grantJune 10, 2020Hansen awarded $100,000 grant for 18-month poverty and economic mobility study, will partner with Boston University professor Nazli Kibria
Brazil during the 1918 flu epidemicJune 10, 2020
New research by business school professor Aldo Musacchio and colleagues offers the first in-depth look at the pandemic's impact on the country. It may provide insight into what lies ahead for Brazil and much of the developing world.
Heller School holds first Sankofa Community Conference on racial justiceJune 10, 2020
Brandeisians come together to face systemic racismJune 5, 2020
Inaugural winner of the Henri Lazarof International Commission Prize selectedMay 27, 2020Israeli composer Yair Klartag will compose an original work for flute, harp and viola as the first winner of the prize honoring the late classical composer, Henri Lazarof MFA’59.
Students study seniors' views of COVID-19May 21, 2020In Sarah Lamb's anthropology class, the students extensively interviewed older adults about their reactions to the virus and even whether they'd be willing to let younger people get treatment before them.
Three named to newly-created Barbara Mandel Professorships May 19, 2020The new named chairs honor the legacy of the late trustee and philanthropist, recognizing excellence in scholarship and teaching.
How much power do voters want in a primary? Maybe not as much as you think.May 15, 2020A new paper co-authored by a Brandeis professor shows primary voters are willing to accept influence from party insiders and elites.
COVID-19 ravages IranMay 14, 2020Iran expert Hadi Kahalzadeh takes stock of the political and economic outlook for the country as the virus continues to spread.
What FDR’s polio crusade teaches us about presidential leadership amid crisisMay 12, 2020FDR made the eradication of polio his personal business, American studies professor Thomas Doherty explains.
The winter of 1933: when the world turned back toward warMay 5, 2020Professor Paul Jankowski’s new book, “All Against All: The Long Winter of 1933 and the Origins of the Second World War,” chronicles a critical time in world history.
Smallpox was defeated, but it wasn't easy. Here's how it's relevant to COVID-19.May 4, 2020When the United States suffered a great wave of smallpox outbreaks at the turn of the 20th century, the public health field was in its infancy. Professor Michael Willrich describes the outbreaks and their relevance to COVID-19.
How COVID-19 is impacting health policy at federal, state and local levelsMay 4, 2020Michael Doonan of the Heller School explains.
Via social media, Simona Shuman ’22 supports chaplains on the front lines of coronavirusApril 29, 2020Simona Shuman '22 manages the social media channels for professor Wendy Cadge's Chaplaincy Innovation Lab, which is offering support to those providing spiritual care to hospital patients and staff.
When should we reopen the economy?April 15, 2020An analysis by International Business School professor Anna Scherbina shows we would hurt more than help the economy if we do it before mid-June.
Coronavirus has shut down most places of worship. Now what?April 1, 2020Sociology professor Wendy Cadge discusses the steps America's faith communities are taking to continue worshiping during the coronavirus pandemic.
Podcast: Who was the ancient warrior Queen Boudica?March 17, 2020
Wife, mother, queen, freedom fighter, rebel or religious hero? Assistant professor of classical studies Caitlin Gillespie separates fact from fiction.
Plagues follow bad leadership in ancient Greek talesMarch 12, 2020Classics professor Joel Christensen examines the function of plagues in the epics.
Ancient Maya kingdom unearthed in a backyard in MexicoMarch 11, 2020Brandeis University associate professor of anthropology Charles Golden and his colleagues have found the long-lost capital of an ancient Maya kingdom in the backyard of a Mexican cattle rancher.
What’s in the Purim basket?March 9, 2020University Professor Jonathan Sarna explains the significance of sending gift baskets during Purim.
Brandeis to livestream academic panel on coronavirus (COVID-19)March 6, 2020Five scholars with expertise in public health, international relations, anthropology and health policy will discuss coronavirus (COVID-19) in an academic panel hosted online.
Anita Hill named to TIME's 100 Women of the YearMarch 5, 2020In celebration of International Women's Day and the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage in the U.S., the 100 Women of the Year recognizes the most influential women of each year from 1920-2019.
Jose Antonio Vargas to deliver Deis Impact keynoteFeb. 28, 2020The journalist, filmmaker and activist will be the keynote speaker at this year's annual festival of social justice.
The African Diaspora and the Canterbury TalesFeb. 27, 2020In the new course, “Chaucer’s 'Global and Refugee Canterbury Tales,’" students examine voices and perspectives that have been long overlooked by the gatekeepers of literary scholarship.
Between bondage and freedom: Life in Civil War refugee campsFeb. 14, 2020Historian Abigail Cooper shows how a newly emancipated people forged a new path for themselves amidst death and despair.
Shifting the conversation on Caribbean historyFeb. 13, 2020While taking professor Faith Smith’s course Literature of the Caribbean in the spring of 2019, Dannie Brice ’20 had a moment of enlightenment.
Reimagining BlacknessFeb. 5, 2020Derrick Adams' art has been on TV shows and in major museums. Professor Isaiah Wooden says Adams transforms our view of African American identity.
Political science in the age of TrumpFeb. 3, 2020Respected or reviled, the U.S. president is inspiring more college students to take politics classes and prompting professors to rethink how they teach.
The geography of neighborhood opportunity: too many kids are left out Jan. 24, 2020A Heller School research team’s deep dive into census data revealed pervasive inequities in children’s access to opportunity. Black and Hispanic kids are the least likely to have access to conditions kids need to thrive.
Introducing the Winter 2019/2020 edition of Brandeis MagazineJan. 23, 2020This edition of Brandeis Magazine includes timely features, faculty and student news, Class Notes, notable alumni books, and much more.
Howard C. Stevenson named 2020 Gittler Prize recipientJan. 13, 2020Stevenson, a nationally recognized clinical psychologist and researcher of racial stress and trauma, will visit campus in November.
Jonathan Sarna in the Times of Israel: antisemitism is a symptom of America's cultural crisisJan. 2, 2020Taking a historical look at times of high antisemitic activity in the U.S., University Professor Jonathan Sarna writes: 'although anti-Semitism victimizes Jews, it actually reveals far less about them than it does about the culture that surrounds and stigmatizes them.'
Why isn't there more diversity in teaching? The teacher pipeline offers some insightDec. 19, 2019Brandeis professor Joshua Goodman found college educated people of color in Massachusetts are considering careers in public education at lower levels than their white peers.
Vets with brain injuries at higher risk of suicideDec. 17, 2019A new study shows that soldiers with traumatic brain injuries often endure unbearable emotional suffering when they return from Afghanistan and Iraq.
Christmas trees in Jewish homes: a brief historyDec. 16, 2019A look at the rise, fall and subsequent rise of Christmas trees in Jewish homes.
These Brandeis pollsters have new insights into the American electorateDec. 12, 2019A nationwide poll conducted by Brandeis politics students makes a number of surprising findings of American electorate
Marshall Scholarship awarded to Troia Reyes-Stone '17 Dec. 9, 2019Reyes-Stone is the fifth Brandeisian to win the prestigious scholarship.
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