The College of Arts & Sciences Office of Research is pleased to announce the inaugural recipients of the Jerome Evenson Research Award and the Harriet Evenson Visiting Scholars Award. These awards support the creation and exchange of knowledge related to Jewish history, religion, culture, identity, and lived experience.
A faculty review committee carefully evaluated, discussed, and ranked all submissions. We are delighted to recognize the following awardees:
Jerome Evenson Research Award
Rachael Hershon (English)
“Bein HaMetim (המתים בין) (Between the Dead): The Body, Reverence, and Ritual in Contemporary Jewish Burial Practices”
Professor Hershon’s project explores how Jewish tradition understands and treats the body at and after death, with particular attention to a central tension: burial practices that emphasize modesty and the erasure of hierarchy, alongside exceptional reverence afforded to Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson (the Lubavitcher Rebbe). Based on her research at the Ohel, interviews with Hevra Kadisha volunteers and visits to Jewish enclaves in NYC, Hershon will write a book of poetry that examines how ritual, grief, and reverence shape the understanding of the body in life and after death in Jewish tradition.
Harriet Evenson Visiting Scholars Award
Travis Hicks (Interior Architecture)
“Renewing the Loewenstein Legacy”
Professor Hicks’ proposal focuses on expanding knowledge about the Jewish architect Edward Loewenstein, who practiced in Greensboro from 1946-1970, via an extended visit with Dr. Patrick Lee Lucas. Lucas will work with UNCG undergraduate students to create a story map and online exhibit to increase access to Loewenstein’s archives, which are housed at UNCG. Lucas will give guest lectures in undergraduate classes, lead a workshop, meet with students and faculty, and offer a public lecture during his two visits to campus to help further our understanding of Loewenstein’s contributions to design and gender and racial equality in architecture. Loewenstein’s firm, for example, hired the first African-American architects and design professionals in Greensboro, and Loewenstein taught at the Woman’s College of the University of North Carolina from 1958 through the late 1960s.
About the Evenson Awards
The Evenson Funds are designed to foster new research and bring innovative scholarly perspectives to campus through both faculty-led projects and visiting scholars.
The Jerome Evenson Research Support Endowed Fund supports the creation of new knowledge and creative work related to Jewish history, religion, culture, health, migration, and identity by providing funding for faculty research projects.
The Harriet Evenson Visiting Scholars Endowed Fund supports the recruitment of distinguished scholars from outside UNCG to visit campus, where they contribute to intellectual life through guest lectures, workshops, student engagement, faculty collaboration, and public programming. These awards will be offered annually.
Faculty are encouraged to watch for the 2027 call for proposals.
Congratulations to this year’s recipients!
SUPPORTING FACULTY INNOVATION.
