Affiliated Faculty
Dr. Laura Ammon
Associate Professor of Religion, Department of Philosophy and Religion
Director, The Watauga Residential College
Areas of Teaching and Research: Religion in Colonial Mexico, Colonialism and Religion, Utopia/Dystopia studies, Futurism
ammonll@appstate.edu | (828) 262-7362
Dr. Joseph Bathanti
McFarlane Family Distinguished Professor in Interdisciplinary Education, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies
Professor, Department of English
Writer-in-Residence, Watauga Residential College
Areas of Teaching and Research: Creative Writing, The Poetry of Witness, Prison Literature, Arts & Humanities Initiatives for Military Veterans and Their Families
bathantjr@appstate.edu | (828) 262-2441
Dr. Sarah Greenwald
Professor, Department of Mathematical Sciences
Areas of Teaching and Research: Jewish Communities Pre-WWII
greenwaldsj@appstate.edu | (828) 262-2363
Dr. Chris Patti
Associate Professor, Department of Communication
Areas of Teaching and Research: Holocaust Survivor Oral History and Ethnography, Compassionate Communication, Interpersonal and Intercultural Storytelling, Mindfulness
patticj@appstate.edu | (828) 262-2481
Dr. Laurie Semmes
Associate Professor of Ethnomusicology, Hayes School of Music
Areas of Teaching and Research: Music and Propaganda, the Ukrainian bandura in Ukraine and in Ukrainian diaspora communities, World Music, Western Music History, Music and Exoticism, Musical Theater
semmeslr@appstate.edu | (828) 262-7239
Dr. Rachel Shinnar
Assistant Chair and Professor, Department of Management
Areas of Teaching and Research: Entrepreneurship, Cross-Cultural Management, Modern Hebrew Instruction
shinnarrs@appstate.edu | (828) 262-7314
Joe Weiss
Senior Lecturer, Department of Philosophy and Religion
Areas of Teaching and Research: Social and Political Philosophy, the Frankfurt School, Classical German Philosophy, Theories of Fascism, Holocaust and Survivor Ethics.
weissjm1@appstate.edu | (828) 262-6636
About Affiliate Faculty Status
In its February 2016 meeting, the Faculty Advisory Board (FAB) of the Center for Judaic, Holocaust, and Peace Studies (JHP) voted to introduce affiliate faculty status for all Appalachian State University faculty members who work with the Center.
Faculty who wish to become members of the JHP faculty are requested to acquaint themselves with the work of the Center (holocaust.appstate.edu) and send an
- up-to-date copy of their curriculum vitae that focuses on any research, programming, and service that relates to Judaic, Holocaust, and Peace Studies
and - a cover letter that explains how the faculty member's work supports the mission of the Center (holocaust.appstate.edu/about/mission-objectives). In addition to references to past and present research, programming, and service, it may also include future plans and projects.
The applying faculty member can make the case for affiliate faculty status by meeting any one of the following criteria:
- organization of and/or involvement in seminars, institutes, and/or workshops at the local, state, regional, national or international level designed to promote Judaic, Holocaust, Genocide and/or Peace Studies (including, for example, the co-organizing of academic programs that focus on JHP at ASU, participating in the Holocaust Educational Foundation's annual Summer Institute on the Holocaust and Jewish Civilization or in Yad Vashem's International Summer Seminar on "Teaching the Shoah and Antisemitism")
- a graduate degree or significant graduate coursework in Judaic, Holocaust, Genocide and/or Peace Studies or a related field
- research, performances, exhibitions, and/or publications in Judaic, Holocaust, Genocide and/or Peace Studies involvement in disciplinary-specific and/or interdisciplinary Judaic, Holocaust, Genocide and/or Peace Studies professional organizations at the local, state, regional, national or international level such as the Association for Jewish Studies, the International Association of Genocide Scholars or the NC Council on the Holocaust
Applications are accepted on a year-round basis. The Faculty Advisory Board (FAB) reviews all completed applications in a timely manner and decides on the granting of affiliate faculty status (a minimum of five FAB members, including the Center director, must vote; a simple majority is sufficient).
In order to maintain active JHP faculty status, faculty members should send an up-to-date CV and cover letter addressing the above points every four years.
Please submit applications for appointment and renewal to the director of the Center for Judaic, Holocaust and Peace Studies.
Emeriti Faculty
Zohara Boyd - Former Co-Director (Department of English)
Alan Hauser (Department of Philosophy and Religion)
Thomas Pegelow Kaplan - Former Director and Leon Levine Distinguished Professor (2015-2022)
Peter Petschauer (Department of History)
Simon Sibelman - Former Director (Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures)