Eugene Michael Avrutin

Eugene Michael Avrutin is the Tobor Family Endowed Professor of Modern European Jewish History at the University of Illinois. He holds cross-appointments in the Program in Jewish Culture and Society, Slavic Languages and Literatures, the European Union Center, and the Russian, East European and Eurasian Center. His research focuses on modern Jewish history, Eastern Europe, and the Russian Empire, with particular attention to documentation practices, race concepts, and religious toleration in imperial contexts.

His scholarship includes award-winning books such as Jews and the Imperial State (2010), The Velizh Affair (2018), and Racism in Modern Russia (2022). He is currently researching everyday crime and neighborly relations in imperial legal frameworks. His work has been supported by grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Woodrow Wilson Center, and others.

• Research Highlights: Pogroms, blood libel accusations, anti-Jewish violence, imperial legal culture, and transnational history.
• Awards: AJL Judaica Reference Award (2022), Cahnman Publication Prize (2009), and others.

Avrutin collaborates internationally and has edited key volumes such as Pogroms: A Documentary History (2021). His work bridges historical analysis with contemporary discussions on racism and nationalism.