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Laurence Rothassociate professor of English
As a scholar examining Jewish culture and literature, Laurence Roth often finds himself negotiating what he calls “bridges and boundaries” – terrain that can be especially challenging at a small university in the heart of a predominantly Christian region.
Roth, an associate professor of English, joined the SU faculty in 1997 after studying in Los Angeles and Berkeley, Calif. He quickly became a mentor for the university’s small Jewish student population and worked to establish a Hillel, an organization for Jewish student life. “I remember the very first meeting,” Roth says, explaining that three students convened in a basement room. “I said, ‘It doesn’t matter how many people are here. This is where it starts.’” Roth is also founding coordinator of Susquehanna’s Jewish Studies program and author of “Inspecting Jews: American Jewish Detective Stories.” As a researcher and educator, Roth struggles with the relationship between advocacy for the Jewish faith and objective inquiry. “Should Jewish studies be separated from advocacy?” Roth asks rhetorically. “There’s not an easy answer.” Roth, whose research focuses on the “unclear borderline between ‘Jewishness’ and ‘American-ness,’” adds that working at Susquehanna gives him a unique research perspective, compared to his peers who work within large Jewish populations, in part related to his interactions with non-Jewish students. “The asking of questions can be a way of creating boundaries and bridges,” he says. “It’s up to me to look at those questions as opportunities to build bridges.” Roth, who also edits “Modern Language Studies,” an internationally distributed academic journal, was selected to spend the fall 2004 semester at the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Advanced Judaic Studies, joining an elite cadre of scholars from around the world. “It was a way to bring an international perspective not just to Jewish literature, but to literature in general,” he says. In his spare time, Roth writes songs and plays guitar with the all-SU-faculty rock band “Faculty Lounge.” Even this leisure activity, though, offers a chance for education and bridge building. “We get to involve students,” Roth says, noting that one musically talented band “intern” helped Roth improve his guitar-playing skills. “It’s a two-way street. That’s one of the things I like about it.” In recognition of his outstanding scholarship, Roth has been awarded Susquehanna’s 2005 Horn Lectureship Award. —Beth Fantaskey Kaszuba
From dawn until dusk, Jennifer Sacher Wiley’s days are punctuated by an endless succession of musical notes, as she strives to improve her own considerable skills as a violinist, teach music courses at Susquehanna, and build an increasingly better university orchestra. Fortunately, Sacher Wiley, associate professor of music, never tires of carrying a tune. In particular, she enjoys the challenge of fostering SU’s fledgling orchestra – a job she was hired to do in 1997, when the university lacked a string section. At that time, there was a symphonic band that concentrated on wind instruments. But, Sacher Wiley recalls, “a lot of key, really important musical experiences depend upon a strong string program. ‘Can we have an orchestra on campus?’ That was the question.” Undaunted by those who doubted that a small school could support a big orchestra, Sacher Wiley pronounced herself up to the challenge and began recruiting and training musicians. Today, she says, “the orchestra is really strong, but what I’m most proud of is the students’ ability to sight read and to be sensitive accompanists.” She adds, “When I first started, the level of player was beginner to intermediate. Now the lowest level we have in the group is advanced-stage intermediate.” Sacher Wiley points out that playing in a small-university orchestra is beneficial for students. “They have opportunities to perform here that they wouldn’t have at a bigger school. They’re forced to be leaders here.” Leading the orchestra has also helped Sacher Wiley excel as a musician. “I’ve gotten to know the music better,” she says, explaining that conducting forces her to look at scores from a different perspective than a single musician does. “Even the repertoires I knew before I know more broadly now, because I have a deeper understanding of the music.” In her rare free time, Sacher Wiley fosters a future generation of Susquehanna orchestra members. “I have a private studio of high schoolers,” she says. “That’s been one of my strategies. There’s a lot of teaching on campus, and a lot of teaching at home.” Sacher Wiley – who, when not teaching music is playing it, practicing or performing with the Williamsport Symphony – notes that total immersion in music and teaching hasn’t dampened her enthusiasm for either. Of the orchestra she says, “When it all comes together, there’s nothing like it. The students are proud of what they’re doing, and I’m proud of them.” As a reward for such dedication, Sacher Wiley is the recipient of this year’s Susquehanna University Teaching Award. —Beth Fantaskey Kaszuba |
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