Sept. 20, 2007

Department Announces Charles and Hannah Block Distinguished Professorship and Rhine Family Endowment for Jewish History

University of North Carolina Senior Vice President for academic affairs Harold L. Martin approved UNCW’s Charles and Hannah Block Distinguished Professorship in Jewish History on Aug. 13, 2007.  Martin’s announcement signaled one of the most exciting landmarks in the history of our department: our first endowed professorship. The road that brought us to this point has been a long one.

In the spring of 2001, professor Mark Spaulding (modern Germany and Europe) began to realize how little his students knew about Jewish history.  He was well-positioned to observe this as an experienced instructor of courses on the history of Germany, European international relations and the Nazi period. He noticed how curious students were about this group of people, who seemed to show up in many of the courses they studied, but about whom they rarely had dedicated reading assignments or lectures. In a memo to then department chairperson Kathleen Berkeley, Spaulding noted “We are failing to properly enrich our students. We are failing to expose them in any serious way to one of the world’s great historical cultures.” He also pointed out that it was ironic that this gap should exist at UNCW, in view of the long tradition and vibrant life of the Jewish community in this area and across the state of North Carolina.

Berkeley agreed. Together they sought and ultimately received the approval of UNCW’s administration to launch a special campaign in support of permanent endowment funds for a distinguished professor of Jewish history. Research indicated that it would be the first professorship of its kind in North Carolina. Under the state’s endowed professorship plan, individual universities may request matching funds for one third of the total endowment needed, after raising two thirds of the endowment themselves. Donors across the state of North Carolina, and very close to home, rose to the challenge, raising $333,000, thereby attracting $167,000 from the state fund.

Franklin and Wendy Block, of Wilmington, have provided an extraordinary gift in support of what will be known as the Charles and Hannah Block Distinguished Professorship of Jewish History.  Donald and Rebecca Rhine, along with Joel and Alice Rhine, all of Wilmington, have also made a pioneering gift to launch the Rhine Family Endowment for Jewish History.  The Rhine Endowment will underwrite regional and campus programs connected to Jewish History.  More than a dozen other friends of the university have added extremely generous contributions in support of each of these funds.  The Block professor will have the resources to offer special programs for the local community, including in-service programs for area teachers. He or she will also continue as an active historical researcher and instructor, as a regular member of the history department faculty. 

(For more information please contact Professor Michael Seidman <seidmanm@uncw.edu>).