Gildenhorn Family Lectures
Sponsored by the Gildenhorn Institute and the College of Arts and Humanities, the Gildenhorn Family Lecture is given annually in honor of Alma and Joseph Gildenhorn
The Gildenhorn Family Lecture Series is the premier annual event in Israel studies and is dedicated to the rigorous exploration of Israeli politics, society, and foreign affairs.
The Gildenhorn Family Lecture Series builds on the Institute’s longstanding tradition of excellence established by the Dubin Family Lecture Series. For 15 years, the Dubin Series has served as a cornerstone of intellectual engagement, bringing leading scholars, policymakers, journalists, and public figures to campus to foster informed and nuanced discussions about Israel from multiple perspectives. The new lecture series proudly continues this legacy while expanding opportunities for critical inquiry and public dialogue. Through lectures, conversations, and public forums, the Gildenhorn Family Lecture Series will explore a diverse range of topics, including Israeli governance and democracy, regional and international relations, social and cultural dynamics, and Israel’s place in a rapidly evolving global landscape. Events will be open to students, faculty, and the broader public, reinforcing the Institute’s mission to promote informed scholarship and civic engagement.
Daniel B. Shapiro, former United States Ambassador to Israel, will deliver the inaugural lecture. He will speak on US–Israel relations in a changing Middle East and address the evolving strategic, diplomatic, and political challenges shaping the bilateral relationship amid regional transformation. Ambassador Shapiro is uniquely suited to inaugurate the Gildenhorn Family Lecture Series. While serving as the US. Ambassador to Israel from 2011 to 2017 under President Barack Obama, he played a central role in strengthening US-Israel cooperation during a period of significant regional upheaval. He has since continued to engage deeply with Middle East policy as a senior official in the Biden Administration and as a fellow at leading think-tanks in the US and Israel. His combination of diplomatic experience, policy expertise, and intellectual engagement embodies the values of informed analysis and public dialogue that the new Gildenhorn Family Lecture Series seeks to promote.