معرفی
Laura Yares is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of History at Michigan State University, affiliated with the College of Social Science. She holds a core faculty role at the Michael and Elaine Serling Institute for Judaism and Modern Israel. Her research focuses on religious education, particularly the history of Judaism in North America and 19th-century American religious dynamics, with specialties in gender studies, material culture, and consumer culture.
Yares' first book, Jewish Sunday Schools: Teaching Religion in Nineteenth Century America, was a 2023 National Jewish Book Award finalist. It examines how Jewish education adapted to modern American contexts, emphasizing women's roles and material culture. Her current project, Artful Education (co-authored with Sharon Avni), explores modern Jewish learning through cultural arts and leisure activities using ethnographic methods.
She teaches courses in Jewish history, religion in North America, and contributes to the Religion and Non-Profits programs. Yares collaborates with Mary Juzwik on Holocaust education for Michigan teachers and actively engages with the 19th-century history research group. A first-generation college student herself, she mentors similarly situated students.
- Awards: 2023 National Jewish Book Award Finalist
- Professional Development: Leads teacher training programs on Holocaust education
- Key Affiliations: Serling Institute, Religious Studies Department, History Department
