Omri Senderowicz Named Director of Schwalb Center for Israel & Jewish Studies

The University of Nebraska at Omaha welcomes Omri Senderowicz, Ph.D., as the new director for the Schwalb Center for Israel & Jewish Studies.

The Natan & Hannah Schwalb Center for Israel & Jewish Studies, housed within UNO’s College of Arts and Sciences, has brought interdisciplinary programing in history and culture to the Omaha community since its establishment in 2009. Center events like the Ruth and Phil Sokolof Lectures have brought ambassadors, authors and academics from across the globe to the heart of campus, inviting the local community into broader global conversations.

In his new role, Senderowicz will continue the Schwalb Center legacy as he develops community engagement resources that educate Omahans on a myriad of topics relating to Israel and global Jewish communities. This semester’s upcoming events include a discussion and Q&A co-hosted with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Harris Center for Judaic Studies on Israel’s upcoming elections, as well as a lecture from journalist Helen Epstein on her book, “Where She Came From: A Daughter’s Search for her Mother’s History.”

"I'm excited to help build a center that fosters fair, nuanced, and intellectually rigorous discussion about Israel, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the broader Jewish world," Senderowicz said of his Schwalb programming

Senderowicz received his Ph.D. in Anthropology and History from the University of Michigan. Prior to coming to UNO, he served as an Israel Institute Teaching Fellow and Visiting Assistant Professor in Jewish Studies at the University of Kansas.

His academic research centers on the Israeli kibbutz movement, particularly focusing on its societal transition from a socialist framework to a capitalist system. Through this lens, Senderowicz uses the kibbutz model as a smaller representation of the global transition from socialism to capitalism. His deep research expertise will benefit both Schwalb Center event programming, as well as the students he teaches as a member of UNO’s History Department.

“I am delighted to welcome Omri to the college and the Schwalb Center,” said Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Melanie Bloom, “His expertise in Israel and Jewish Studies, combined with his commitment to thoughtful, intellectually rigorous dialogue, will enrich the educational experience of our students while strengthening the Schwalb Center's engagement with the Omaha community.”