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$2M ENDOWED CHAIR IN MODERN

ISRAEL STUDIES TO HONOR UA ALUMNUS
by Lori Harwood

he Arizona Center for Judaic honor and remember their son in
TStudies in the University of this way,” says UA President Robert
Arizona’s College of Social and C. Robbins. “By choosing to invest
Behavioral Sciences has received in the Arizona Center for Judaic
a new commitment of $1.5 million Studies, the Plevans are furthering
from Bettina B. and Kenneth A. the work of an outstanding program
Plevan, which will be combined while also supporting one of their
with a previous gift of $500,000 son’s passions. I am very glad to
to endow a chair in Modern Israel know Jeffrey Plevan’s legacy as a
Studies in memory of their son Wildcat will live on in this way.”
Jeffrey B. Plevan. “Ken and I hope that an Israel
Jeffrey Plevan, who graduated studies professorship will promote
from the UA with a degree in Judaic a climate of understanding and
studies in 2000, died unexpectedly cooperation among the differing
from a heart attack in 2013 at the viewpoints on Middle East issues,”
age of 36. He is remembered for his Betsy Plevan says. “We have been
love of Judaism, Israel and the UA, very impressed with the Arizona
as well as for his infectious, upbeat Center for Judaic Studies and are
personality and an inner drive to pleased to be helping the center
overcome life’s obstacles. expand its programs and enhance
After graduating from the UA, its commitment to academic
he received a master’s degree in excellence.”
Jewish communal service from J. Edward Wright, director of the
Gratz College in Philadelphia Arizona Center for Judaic Studies,
and then began a career as a notes that “everyone here loved Jeff,
development officer at the Hunter and we are deeply honored that the
College Hillel in New York. He also Plevan family has chosen to honor
led the MetroCats, the New York his memory through the lectureship
City chapter of the UA Alumni and now the endowed chair that
Association. bear his name. Jeff’s memory will Jeffrey Plevan / Submitted photo
The Plevans previously forever be a blessing here, across
endowed the annual Jeffrey B. the country and around the world.”
Plevan Memorial Lecture in Israel
Studies at the UA. With their new ‘By choosing to invest in the
commitment, the Plevans are
establishing the Jeffrey B. Plevan Arizona Center for Judaic Studies,
Chair in Israel Studies, which is the
first endowed chair in the College the Plevans are furthering the
of Social and Behavioral Sciences
to be amplified by the state- work of an outstanding program
funded Eminent Scholars Program,
designed to help attract and retain while also supporting one of
leading scholars.
“We are all incredibly grateful their son’s passions.’
to the Plevans for their generosity
and inspired by their decision to

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