معرفی
Dr. Sonja Wentling serves as dean of the School of Arts and Sciences and professor of history at Concordia College, where she has been faculty since 2003. Previously director of global studies (2021-2022), she brings European and American academic perspectives to her leadership and scholarship.
Educational background:
- Ph.D. in American Foreign Relations, European History with emphasis in Jewish History from Kent State University
- M.A. in American History from Southern Illinois University
- M.A. in European History and German from University of Vienna, Austria
Her research spans American, European, and Middle Eastern history with critical focus on U.S. foreign policy intersections with Jewish history, global antisemitism, and Zionist movements. She examines historical memory through the lens of the Shoah and analyzes geopolitical tensions in the Arab-Israeli conflict, emphasizing how historical narratives shape contemporary discourse.
Recent publications reveal consistent exploration of transnational Jewish experiences and U.S. diplomatic history, particularly examining institutional responses to Jewish crises and the evolution of bipartisan support for Israel across 20th-century American politics.
Professional recognition:
- Fellow of the Schusterman Summer Institute for Israel Studies at Brandeis University (2013-present)
Dr. Wentling champions experiential learning through projects like the PEAK research initiative 'A Tale of Two Cities,' where she mentored eight history majors in investigating historical memory at Concordia Language Villages. This work involved archival analysis, stakeholder interviews, and public presentation at the University of Minnesota’s Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies.
She leads collaborative academic teams focused on integrating historical inquiry with contemporary memory studies, particularly through interdisciplinary projects examining institutional naming controversies and historical accountability.
