Student engagement activities provide opportunities for Tulane students to develop as leaders and thinkers in their own right, through meaningful experiential learning from community practitioners.

Preparing students for life after graduation is an important part of our mission. We emphasize communication and critical thinking, equipping students with the skills to succeed in myriad careers.

We also emphasize service learning—the very essence of Tulane’s curriculum. The Grant Center integrates Tulane’s robust commitment to improving our community into our enrichment opportunities. We plan to begin offering internships and career seminars, providing valuable experience outside the classroom to all our students. 

Are you a Tulane student who has ideas for a Grant Center program? We want to here from you! Share your thoughts here

Center Programs for Tulane Students

Audrey G. Ratner Leadership Course

The Audrey G. Ratner Leadership Course is a hallmark of the TAWANI Foundation's Audrey G. Ratner Excellence Endowed Fund for American Jewry and Jewish Culture. The course deepens the personal growth inherent in the experiential learning opportunities offered by Hillel’s Tulane Jewish Leaders program (TJL) and the Center for Public Service. With the focused academic coursework of the Ratner Jewish Leadership Course, students grow their understanding of the academic side of Jewish culture and life. The course is planned for each Spring and includes more than ten guest speakers, each of which exemplify the ideals of Jewish leadership in their fields.

Jewish Studies & the World

This biennial speaker series brings Jewish Studies majors and/or professionals in the Jewish world to talk with Tulane Undergraduates and Graduate Students about their career paths, highlighting the diversity of career paths and opportunities for those who pursue degrees in Jewish Studies or career paths within Jewish communities and organizations. Scheduled speakers for Fall 2022 include Abby Glogower, Curator of Jewish Collections and Jewish Community Archives at the Filson Historical Society in Louisville, and Gail Chalew, and Co-Chair of Limmud NOLA and Vice President of Programming for the NOLA chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women.

Colloquium in American Jewish Studies

This regular series brings innovative scholars to Tulane University to share and discuss new research with Tulane faculty and students, creating a space for bridging and sharing cutting edge research across disciplines and institutions. The Colloquium provides a unique opportunity for our students to engage with leading scholars in the field on new and important issues. Our 2021-22 visitors have included Dr. Gregg Drinkwater (UC Berkeley) and Dr. Mijal Bitton (Shalom Hartman Institute), and our topics range from Queer Jewish studies to Sephardic Jewry and religious intermixing of Jewish and non-Jewish traditions in the American Context. 

Class Speakers and Public Programs

Tulane students are invited to attend our public programs, including the Audrey G. Ratner Speaker Series, often with the opportunity to engage with the speaker directly at luncheon's with Tulane Hillel or as an invited guest to a Jewish Studies department course. In addition, the Grant Center for the American Jewish Experience creates opportunities for Jewish Studies Faculty to bring outside speakers to their courses to enhance the Tulane undergraduate experience. 

Individual Student Opportunities

Kanter Fellow

The Kanter Fellow, supported by the Dr. Lawrence Kanter American Jewish History Research Endowed Fund, facilitates research in American Jewish History. This year, the Kanter Fellow will work with the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience, and will focus on research initiatives in American Jewish history as well as hands-on training in curation, digitization, and collection management. The Spring 2022 Kanter Fellow was Carly Lerner, a Jewish Studies major who hopes to pursue a career in Jewish non-profit work. As the Kanter Fellow, Carly helped to preserve the history of New Orleans’ Congregation Gates of Prayer by sorting and organizing their archives. 

Apply to be the Spring 2023 Kanter Fellow or pursue one of our other internship opportunities!

Margolies Student-Faculty Research Award

The Sylvia R. and Lawrence N. Margolies Student-Faculty Research Award is available to students and faculty, including student projects overseen by Tulane faculty or faculty projects with a student component. The 2021-2022 Sylvia R. and Lawrence N. Margolies Student-Faculty Research Award Winner was Jewish Studies and Public Health major Hannah Snyder, working with Jewish Studies faculty member Dr. Jason Gaines. The award supported Hannah's senior thesis work, in which she investigates the question of how Biblical Jewish texts and laws frame reproductive rights, particularly the question of abortion access. The 2022-2023 application period is open! For more information, download the application call. 

Communications and Media Intern

The Communications and Media Intern assists the Program Manager in overseeing and managing the Center’s social media accounts. The Intern’s primary responsibility is the creation of content for the Center’s social media platforms, publicizing Center events, and evaluating the growth of the Center’s social media channels.