This program is made possible with a generous donation from J. Michael and Alice Smith in honor of Sara Halpern
To support the Hyman Mentorship Program, you can make a donation.
The Paula Hyman Mentorship Program invites applications for its 2025–2026 academic year cohort. The program was established in 2014 in memory of Professor Paula Hyman (1946–2011), a pioneering scholar of Jewish history and a dedicated mentor to women in Jewish Studies.
The program pairs emerging scholars with experienced mentors, while also building a strong network among the cohort through group workshops. Further, the program focuses on professional development for early career scholars from underrepresented genders. This can include cis women, trans women, trans men, non-binary people, and those who are otherwise marginalized for their gender identity.
Our primary programming this year will take place in-person on December 16–17, 2025 immediately after the AJS Annual meeting. There will also be at least four required Zoom meetings in the 2025–2026 academic year, one in the fall and 3 or 4 in the spring.
Applications are due May 11, 2025.
Please direct any questions about the program to Dr. Sara Ronis at sronis@stmarytx.edu or Dr. Laura Yares, at yareslau@msu.edu.
Qualifications
Applicants must:
• be a current AJS members
• have received or will receive a PhD between January 1, 2019 and August 30, 2025
• be available to attend the in-person workshop taking place December 16–17, 2025
We are committed to making conference attendance possible for everyone. If you have concerns relating to the cost of attendance or dependent care obligations, know that we will do our utmost to make it financially feasible for you to attend.
Application Instructions
Complete applications, to be submitted through this form, include:
• a CV
• a two-page cover letter including 1) a description of current research and publications, 2) a statement about why you would like to participate in this specific mentorship program, and 3) an
explanation of why participation in the program this year would meet your current professional goals; and 4) Optional: a list of up to three more senior scholars in Jewish studies who might serve as mentors. They need not be in the same subfield
as the applicant.*
* Please do not contact potential mentors. The program’s steering committee will reach out to these mentors and often looks for matches beyond the suggestions it receives.
• Contact information for two academic references
Additionally, the Hyman Mentorship Program will be offering a virtual workshop Friday, April 25th at 8am PST/10am CST/11am EST/5pm Central European Standard Time with Dr. Allison Schachter on how to prepare a strong application to the program. Attendance is not required, but this workshop will offer helpful strategies for applying to this and other fellowships. The workshop will be recorded.
You can register for the workshop here. The Zoom link will be sent to those who register.
Congratulations to the 2024–2025 Paula Hyman Memorial Mentorship Program participants:
• Anabella Esperanza (Katz Center) with mentor Julia Phillips Cohen (Vanderbilt University)
• Abby Gondek (Florida International University) with mentor Robin Judd (The Ohio State University)
• Joanna Homrighausen (William and Mary) with mentor Samantha Baskind (Cleveland State University)
• Kathryn Huether (UCLA) with mentor Anna Shternshis (University of Toronto)
• Aleksandra Jakubczak (Technical University of Berlin) with mentor Elissa Bemporad (Queens College)
• Thaïs Miller (University of Central Arkansas) with mentor Brett Ashley Kaplan (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign)
• Angelina Palmen (Uppsala University) with mentor Lisa Silverman (University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee)
• Sarah Zager (St. Olaf College) with mentor Laura Levitt (Temple University)
