Full Curriculum Vitea
For those who really want to know, this is my full Curriculum Vitea to give you an understanding of what I have done and what I can do.
Education
Doctor of Science in Jewish Studies
Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership, Chicago, Illinois
ABD: June 2014
Date of completion: February 2015
Date of graduation: August 30, 2015
Dissertation: The evolution of the non-liturgical parts of the Central Conference of American Rabbis’ Haggadah.
Master of Arts in Professional Writing
Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Date of graduation: 1992
Concentration: Rhetoric
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Columbia University, New York, New York
Date of graduation: 1990
Sophomore Year Abroad, University of Nottingham, England1985-1986
Teaching Experience
Senior Instructor, Missouri State University, Aug. 2010-July 2023
Instructor, Missouri State University, Jan. 2007-Aug. 2010
Lecturer, Southwest Missouri State University, Aug. 1995-Dec. 2006
Per-Course Instructor, Southwest Missouri State University, Sep. 1993-May 1995
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Holocaust Literature (English 362): designed
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Studies in Literature: Jewish European Literature (English 361): designed
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Studies in Literature: Jewish American Literature (English 330): designed
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Studies in Literature: Jewish Women’s Literature (English 330): designed
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Public and Private Identities in Biography and/or Autobiography: Jewish Americans (General Education Program 397): designed
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Writing II online (English 210 — Academic Writing)
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Beginning Technical Writing (English 321)
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Writing I (English 110 — Freshman Composition)
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Writing II (English 310 — Writing in the Disciplines)
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Writing II (English 210 — Academic Writing)
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First Semester Freshman Composition (English 111)
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Second Semester Freshman Composition (English 120)
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Expository Writing (English 220)
Publications:
Non-Fiction
Books
Jews of Missouri: an ornament to Israel. Ozarks Studies Institute, 2022.
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Creating Community: The Jews of Springfield, Missouri. Greene County Historical
Society, 2022.
The Evolution of the Non-liturgical Parts of the Central Conference of American Rabbis
Haggadah, deGruyter, 2017.
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Jews of Springfield in the Ozarks, with M. Rachel Gholson, Arcadia Press, 2013.
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Seeing Traditions: exhibit catalogue, with M. Rachel Gholson, Ozarks Studies Institute,
2006.
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Guest Editor. OzarksWatch: The Magazine of the Ozarks — Special Issue: Documenting
Jews of the Ozarks, vol. 12, no. 1&2, 1999.
Publications:
Fiction Books
We are in Exile/Estamos en Galut, Hakadosh, 2016.
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A Shout in the Sunshine, The Jewish Publication Society, 2007.
Book Chapters
“Changes in the Ashkanormative nature of SciFi stories,” with Valeria Frankel, in
Jewish Fantasy Worldwide: Trends in Speculative Stories from Australia to Chile,
Valerie Frankel, Ed. Lexington Pub., 2023, pp. 225-248.
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“Golems in Television and Movies,” in Jews in Popular Science Fiction: Marginalized in
the Mainstream, Valerie Frankel, ed. Lexington Pub., 2022, pp. 45-60.
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“Jewish Sioux Falls,” in The City of Hustle: A Sioux Falls Anthology, Jon Lauck and
Patrick Hicks, ed., Belt Pub., 2022, pp. 105-110.
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“Jewish Homesteader Memoir: A Woman's Story,” in Jews and Gender, Leonard
Greenspoon, ed., Purdue UP, 2021, pp. 123-134.
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“Exploring Midwestern v. Great Plains Regional Variation By Way of the Jewish
Immigrant Experience,” in The Interior Borderlands: Regional Identity in the
Midwest and Great Plains, Jon Lauck, ed., Augustana University Press, 2019.
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“The Community Memory of Springfield, Missouri Suppresses the City’s Jewish Past,”
Jews and Non-Jews: Memories and Interactions from the Perspective of Cultural
Studies, Warsaw Studies in Jewish History and Memory, vol. 3, Peter Lang,
2015, pp. 61-74.
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“Creating a Community: Who can belong to the Reform Synagogue?,” Who is a Jew,
Leonard Greenspoon, ed., Purdue U.P., 2014, pp. 267-284.
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“Global Jewish Tourism,” with Dimitri Ioannides, in Tourism, Religion and Spiritual
Journeys, Dallen Timothy, ed., Routledge, 2005, pp. 156-171.
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“Jewish Past as a ‘Foreign Country’; The Travel Experiences of American Jews,” with
Dimitri Ioannides, in Tourism, Diasporas, and Space: Travels to promised lands,
Dallen Timothy and Tim Coles, ed., I.B. Tauris, 2004, pp. 95-110.
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Academic Articles
“The Newport Jews and the Anti-Russian Sentiment in St. Louis,” Arkansas Historical
Quarterly, forthcoming 2023.
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“The Singer Siblings: Different Views of Hassidic Life,” Women in Judaism, vol. 18, no.
2, 2022. https://doi.org/10.33137/wij.v18i2.39677.
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“A Failed Jewish Agricultural Colony in the Ozarks: Lessons Learned and Forgotten,”
OzarksWatch, series 2, vol. 9, no. 2, 2020, pp. 42-47.
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“Judaism and Extraterrestrials: Theological Lessons from Science Fiction.” Journal of
Popular Culture, vol. 52, no. 5, 2019, pp. 1200-1217,
https://doi.org/10.1111/jpcu.12847.
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“Kinky Friedman and His Influence on Jewish American Music,” Music & Musical
Performance: An International Journal, vol. 1, no. 1, 2019, pp. 33-53.
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“Local Reaction to the Anti-Semitic Action of Glenn Frazier Miller,” Elder Mountain:
A Journal of Ozarks Studies, vol. 7, 2017, pp. 42-57.
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“Jewish Women Homesteaders on the Plains,” Women in Judaism: A Multidisciplinary
Journal, vol. 13, no. 2, 2017.
file:///C:/Users/mci1011/Downloads/28435-64516-1-PB.pdf.
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“Translator as Storyteller: A Study of the Book of Esther,” Journal of Translation, vol. 9, no. 1, 2013, pp. 23-29. http://www.sil.org/resources/publications/jot.
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“Finding and Saving a History: Impact on a Community,” Elder Mountain: A Journal of
Ozarks Studies, vol. 4, 2012, pp. 109-113.
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“H. Berkowitz and S.S. Cohon: Two men battle over one haggadah,” American Jewish
Archives Journal, vol. 58, no. 1& 2, 2006, pp. 103-119.
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“‘But they’re JUST people’: Teaching Jewish American (auto)biography in a Jewishly
impoverished university,” The Journal of Religion and Society, vol. 6, 2004,
http://moses.creighton.edu/jrs/toc/2004.html. (requested).
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“Pilgrimages of Nostalgia: Patterns of Jewish Travel in the United States,” with Dimitri
Ioannides, Tourism Recreation Research, vol. 27, no. 2, 2002, pp. 17-26.
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“The Transformation of the Haggadah’s Preface as Influenced by the Development of
Public Education in Europe and the United States,” with Stephen M. Cohen. SHOFAR: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Jewish Studies, vol. 18, no. 2, 2000,
pp. 27-44.
“The Library That Began in a Hay Wagon,” OzarksWatch, vol. 12, no. 1&2, 1999, pp.
21-24.
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“A Lost Liturgy,” CCAR Journal, Spring 1999, pp. 79-83.
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“Cultural Diversity in the Classroom: Using a Jewish Autobiography in a non-Jewish
Class,” Kansas English, vol. 83, no. 1, 1997-8, pp. 45-54.
Encyclopedia Articles
“Carol Nadelson,” Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women, Jewish Women’s
Archive, 2021, jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/nadelson-carol.
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“Natalie Portman,” Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women, Jewish Women’s
Archive, 2021, jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/portman-natalie.
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“Chaim Potok,” The Jewish Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, Greenwood Pub., 2008,
pp. 321-322. (invited).
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“Leonard Nimoy,” The Jewish Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, Greenwood Pub.,
2008, pp. 296-297. (invited).
“William Shatner,” The Jewish Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, Greenwood Pub.,
2008, pp. 368-369. (invited).
Essays
“Anti-Russian Sentiment among the Jews of St. Louis,” Gateway Magazine, fall 2023, forthcoming.
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“The Cohn-Marx Family – A Springfield Merchant Staple.” Green County Historical Society Newsletter, fall 2018, p. 2.
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“MJSA: The Second Decade,” SHOFAR: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Jewish Studies, vol. 32, no. 4, 2014, pp. 145-148. (requested)
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“Lucia,” Bridges: A Journal for Jewish Feminists and Our Friends, vol. 6, no. 2, 1997, pp. 6-68.
Videos
Home, Community, Tradition: The Women of Temple Israel. written and directed with
M. Rachel Gholson, Ozarks Studies Institute, Missouri State University, 2004.
Blogs
“Where did our modern Haggadot come from?” Passover Blog, Yahad.net: a Jewish
Heritage Network Project, 2021, yahad.net/blog/where-did-our-modern-haggadot-come-from.
Interviews
“Episode 63: We Gotta Get Out of This Place.” The History of Chemistry, with Steve
Cohen, 8 April 2023, https://www.patreon.com/posts/episode-63-we-of-
81246059?fbclid=IwAR1UtLgWtO-14hWZAe3ndixBkvs3Q65u9jeIyPGM4SeFjBsAJX22ZeAbTAQ.
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“History Museum on the Square Presents: Sharing Stories of the Crossroads,” with John
Sellers, Kick 92.3, 4 April 2023.
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“Jewish merchant history of Springfield, MO.,” Springfield Daily Citizen, with Tom
Carlson, 9 January 2023. sgfcitizen.org/podcast/podcast-jewish-merchant-history-
of-springfield-mo/?fbclid=IwAR04lrXAeS4h8EtRT52MfZlKdVsXX7VYGJhoialgoecLV-Nnxloq0EdWze4.
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“St. Louise in the Know,” with Ray Hartmann, KTRS 550am, 15 November 2022,
soundcloud.com/550ktrs/itk-mara-w-cohen-loannides-11-14-22?fbclid=IwAR2AsdMY26cYUobZj8.
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“History Museum on the Square Presents: Sharing Stories of the Crossroads,” With John
Sellers, Kick 92.3, 28 June 2022.
“Our Jewish Friends and Neighbors,” OzarksWatch Video Magazine, 19 May 2022.
video.optv.org/video/our-jewish-friends-and-neighbors-yqfvzi/?fbclid=IwAR0HA7bf_Fec2pmQcRzPk3Zqn37rkWSeNnHtcwcSabCPU52X-4eR-2RuI3I
“Preserving the Ozarks, Dr. Mara Cohen Ioannides,” Ozarks Alive, 12 Aug. 2019,
www.ozarksalive.com/stories/preserving-the-ozarks-dr-mara-cohen-ioannides.
“Uncovering the Unknown History of the Ozarks: The Springfield Jewish Community,”
KSMU, Sept. 2013, https://www.ksmu.org/local-history/2013-09-20/uncovering-
the-unknown-history-of-the-ozarks-the-springfield-jewish-community.
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“Author Mara W. Cohen Ioannides,” WebbWeaver Books, July 2013,
www.blogtalkradio.com/webbweaverbooks/2013/08/02/webbweaver-books-proudly-presents-author-mara-w-cohen?fbclid=IwAR1bo3p8QyMu3kPdij83aaFMVADOvnbvrBaPwkg1JumWwRT2LjDV1qvxUds.
Colloquium Presentations
“Murder/Suicide: Malinda and William Lowenstein,” The Annual Klutznick-Harris
Symposium: Jews and Urban Life. 23-24 Oct. 2022. Creighton University, Omaha, NB.
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“Jews Create Towns: An Examination of the Impact of Joseph Sondheimer on the
Creation of Muskogee, Oklahoma,” The Annual Klutznick-Harris Symposium:
Jews and Urban Life. 24-25 Oct. 2021. Creighton University, Omaha, NB.
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“Jewish Homesteader Memoir: A Woman's Story,” The Annual Klutznick-Harris
Symposium: Jews and Gender: Tradition and Change. 27-28 Oct. 2019. Creighton University, Omaha, NB.
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“Creating a Community: Who can belong?” The Annual Klutznick-Harris Symposium:
Who is a Jew. 28-29 Oct. 2012.Creighton University, Omaha, NB.
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“Telling Traditions: An ongoing study of the Jews of the Ozarks.” Midwest Jewish Studies Colloquium, Creighton University, Omaha, NB. 21 May 2006. (invited)
Keynotes
“Stories of Freedom: What You Do Matters.” Days of Remembrance, Fort Leonard Wood, MO. 14 Apr. 2010.
Conference Presentations
“Jewish History through Graphic Literature,” Western Jewish Studies Association
Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada, 12-13 Mar. 2023.
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“Jewish Graphic Memoir and the Immigrant Experience,” Midwest Jewish Studies
Association Conference, University of Nebraska – Omaha, 18-19 Sept. 2022.
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“Joseph Sondheimer and his interaction with the Cherokee,” Ozarks Studies Symposium,
Missouri State University –West Plains, 23 Sept. 2022.
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“Bridging the Lacuna of Local Jewish Histories Jewish Lives in Small/er Communities in
the United States -- Roundtable,” with Jeannette Gabriel and Liat Alon. Biennial
Conference, American Jewish Historical Society, Tulane University, 15-17 May
2022.
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“Midwestern Jewish Traders: Opportunists and Reluctant settlers,” Western Jewish
Studies Association, Schusterman Center for Judaic and Israel Studies, University
of Oklahoma, 27-28 Mar. 2022.
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“Anti-Russian sentiment among the Jews of St. Louis,” Missouri Conference on History,
Jefferson City, Missouri, 17 Mar. 2022.
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“Jewish Traders, Native Wives, and Jewish Law: How Judaism Policed Intermarriage,”
Midwest Association of American Religions, Virtual World, 3-5 Mar. 2022.
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“Creating New Congregations: The Cases of Jewish congregations in Bentonville and
Eureka Springs,” Ozarks Studies Symposium, Missouri State University –West
Plains, 24 Sept. 2021.
“A River Runs Through It: The expansion of Jews into the Ozarks,” Ozarks Studies
Association Conference, Missouri State University – West Plains, 23 Sept. 2021.
“Why are Science Fiction Anthologies Ashkanormative?” Midwest Jewish Studies
Association, Virtual World, Sept. 2021.
“Jewish Traders’ migration to the American West and their relationships with Native
women,” Jewish Immigration in Myth and Reality, The Herzog Centre for Jewish and Near Eastern Religions and Culture at Trinity College, Dublin and The Midwest Jewish Studies Association of the United States and The Western Jewish Studies Association of the United States 21-25 June 2021.
“Jewish Traders and Their Indigenous Wives: Myths and Reality,” Midwestern History
Conference, Virtual World, 26-27 May 2021.
“The Singer Siblings: Different Views of Shtetl Life,” Western Jewish Studies
Association, University of Nevada – Las Vegas, 14-15 March 2021.
“From Witkowo to Lexington,” Missouri History Conference, Virtual World, 10-12
March 2021.
“The Jewish Woman Immigrants’ expression of Jewish Womanhood in America: Four
Stories and their Women,” Midwest Jewish Studies Association, Virtual World,
18-21 Oct. 2020.
“The Jewish Woman Immigrant Sacrifice of Jewish Womanhood upon Coming to
America: Four Women and their Stories.” Maternal Sacrifice in Jewish Culture:
Rethinking Sacrifice from a Maternal Perspective in Religion, Art, and Culture
CERMOM-INALCO, Paris, France, 19-21 Nov. 2019.
“From Witkowo, Poland to Lexington, Missouri: A Family’s Journey,” Midwest Jewish
Studies Association, University of Arkansas—Fayetteville, 8-9 Sept. 2019.
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“Where the Midwest Ends and the Plains Begin: A Conversation about The Interior
Borderlands: Regional Identity in the Midwest and Great Plains (Center for Western Studies, 2019).” Midwestern History Conference, Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, MO, 30-31 May 2019. (invited)
“Anti-Russian Sentiment in St. Louis and the arrival of the members of the failed Newport Jewish Commune.” Western Jewish Studies Association, California State University, San
Bernardino Palm Desert Campus, 5-6 May 2019.
“How Attitudes Change,” Special Mission of Special Collections, Missouri Conference on History, Kansas City, MO, 7 Mar. 2019.
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“St. Louis’ Response to the Arkansas Am Olam Community Failure.” Midwest Jewish
Studies Association, The Spertus Institute, 21-22 Oct. 2018.
“The First Families: Foundation of the Jewish Ozarks.” Ozarks Studies Symposium,
Missouri State University, West Plains, Missouri, 20 Sept. 2018.
“The Queen's Fool Fools us All.” Western Jewish Studies Association, San Antonio,
Texas, 11-12 Mar. 2018.
“Moving the Southern Border North: Ozarks Jewry is Southern Jewry.” Southern Jewish
Historical Society. Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish
Archives, Cincinnati, Ohio. 3 Nov. 2017.
“Making a New World: German Refugee Rabbis in the Ozarks.” Midwest Jewish
Studies Association, Wayne State University, 23 Oct. 2017
“From the Outside to the Margin: German Jewish refugee rabbis in the Ozarks.” Ozarks
Studies Symposium, Missouri State University, West Plains, Missouri, 22 Sept. 2017.
“Golems on Television in the 21st Century.” Western Jewish Studies Association,
Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, CA. 26-27 March 2017.
“Belonging to the Commune, but not the Ozarks.” Ozarks Studies Symposium, Missouri
State University, West Plains, Missouri.23 Sept. 2016.
“The Outsider Looking in: Jewish Homesteader Memoir.” Midwest Jewish Studies
Association, Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri. 11-12 Sept. 2016.
“Anti-Semitism in the Ozarks: How Glenn Frazier Miller’s murders is reflected in the
Local communities.” Midwestern History Association. Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan. 1 June 2016.
“Missouri Celebrates the American Jewish Tercentenary.” Western Jewish Studies
Association, Willamette University, Willamette, Oregon. 17-18 Apr. 2016.
“Creating a congregation in the Hinterland of Springfield, Missouri.” Creating Reform
Community. Midwest Jewish Studies Association, University of Kansas –Lawrence. 18-19 Oct. 2015.
“What brought Frazier Glenn Miller to the Ozarks and how did the Ozarks react?”
Ozarks Studies Symposium, Missouri State University, West Plains, Missouri. 18-19 Sept. 2015.
“Battling Anti-Semitism: Living near the home of the KC Shooter.” Western Jewish
Studies Association, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. 13-14 May 2015.
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“Jews, Gentiles, and Intergroup Relations in Springfield, MO: A change in modernity.”
Ozarks Studies Symposium. Missouri State University, West Plains Campus. West Plains, MO. 19 Sept. 2014.
“What Science Fiction can teach us about defining who is a Jew.” Midwest Jewish
Studies Association. Kent State University. Kent, OH. 14 Sept. 2014.
“Cross Burnings and Grave Desecration: Anti-Semitism in Springfield, MO.” Western
Jewish Studies Association. Arizona Center for Judaic Studies, University of Arizona. Tuscon, AZ. 3-5 May 2014.
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Discussant. Refuge: Stories of the Selfhelp Home. Ethan Bensinger, dir. 2014. Midwest
American Academy of Religion. Ohio Northern University, Ada, OH.4-5 Apr. 2014. (invited)
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“Anti-Semitic Incidents in Springfield, MO: Cross burnings, cemetery desecrations, and
local attitudes.” Midwest American Academy of Religion. Ohio Northern University, Ada, OH. 4-5 Apr. 2014.
“Our Memories, Our History: The Jews of Springfield, MO, USA.” Warsaw School of
Social Sciences and Humanities. Warsaw, Poland. 12-14 Nov. 2013.
“German Jewish Immigration to Springfield, MO.” Midwest Jewish Studies Association.
Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership. Chicago, IL. 20-21 Oct. 2013.
“Survival of Memory in Jewish Springfield.” Ozarks Studies Symposium. Missouri
State University, West Plains Campus. West Plains, MO. 19-21 Sept. 2013.
“Another Other: Jews and Extraterrestrials.” Western Jewish Studies Association.
Loyola Marymount University. Los Angeles, CA. 6-8 Apr. 2013.
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“Women’s Autobiographies and American History: How Jewish women homesteaders
influence our understanding of history.” 2012 American Society for Ethnohistory Conference. Springfield, MO. 7-10 Nov. 2012.
“Jewish Themes in the Lyrics of Kinky Freidman.” Midwest Jewish Studies Association.
York University, Toronto, Canada. 14-15 Oct. 2012.
“Jewish Women Homesteaders and Their Impact on the Great Plains.” Women Extend
The Boundaries of Homesteading Experience.1862-2012: The Making of the
Great Plains. Center for Great Plains Studies, University of Nebraska Lincoln and Homestead National Monument of America, National Park Service. University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NB. 28-30 Mar. 2012.
“The Impact of Jewish Women Homesteaders on America and American Judaism.”
Midwest Jewish Studies Association. Oakland University, Detroit, MI. 23-24 Oct. 2011.
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“Pre and Post Civil War Jewish Migration to the Ozarks.” with M. Rachel Gholson.
Ozarks Studies Symposium. Missouri State University, West Plains Campus. West Plains, MO. 22-24 Sep. 2011.
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“Jewish Women Homesteaders.” Western Jewish Studies Association. San Deigo, CA.
10-11 April 2011.
“Jewish Historical Fiction as Jewish Historiography.” Association for Jewish Studies 42nd Annual Conference. Boston, MA. 19-21 Dec. 2010.
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“Stories Through Pictures: Showing religious communities’ commonalities through
photographs.” Ozarks Studies Symposium. Missouri State University, West Plains Campus. West Plains, MO. 23-25 Sep. 2010.
“Seeing Traditions an Examination of the Exhibition.” The Jewish Community in
Springfield: Preservation and Recognition. The 52nd Annual Missouri Conference on History. Missouri Historical Society and Missouri Museum Association, Jefferson City, MO. 16 Apr. 2010.
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“We built a building, and then had to sell it: the history of the synagogue in Blytheville,
Arkansas.” Western Jewish Studies Association. Arizona State University, Pheonix, AZ. 14-15 Mar. 2010.
“Feminism and the Seder. “I’m not a Feminist”: the Complexities of Ethos in a
Postmodern World. 7th Biennial Feminism(s) and Rhetoric(s) Conference.
Coalition of Women Scholars in the History of Rhetoric & Composition. Michigan State University, Lansing, MI. 7-9 Oct. 2009.
“Are Ozarks Jews Southern Jews? Redefining a region.” Ozarks Studies Symposium.
Missouri State University, West Plains Campus. West Plains, MO. 24-26 Sep. 2009.
“How’d we get here? Following the path of a discussion board list on a Jewish
question.” Western/Midwestern Jewish Studies Association. University of Denver, Denver, CO. 26-27 Apr. 2009.
“Visiting the Spa: A tour of Jewish Hot Springs, Arkansas.” Midwest Jewish Studies
Association. Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership, Chicago, IL. 26-27 Oct. 2008.
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“The Springfield Jewish Community’s Reaction to Home, Community, Tradition: The
Women of Temple Israel.” Biennial Scholars Conference in American Jewish History. Hebrew Union College and the Casden Institute at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA. 1-3 June 2008.
“Moving the Southern Border North.” Western Jewish Studies Association Conference.
Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA. 6-7 Apr. 2008.
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“How North are Southern Jews?” Religion and Popular Culture. Midwest Popular
Culture Association Conference. Kansas City, MO.12-14 Oct. 2007.
“Writing Historical Fiction: The Process.” Composing Ourselves: the Writing Conference. Missouri State University, Springfield, MO. 29-30 Mar. 2007. (by invitation)
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“Presenting Images to the Ozarks’ Public: Examining the Seeing Traditions
Photographic Exhibition.” Western Jewish Studies Association Conference. Portland, OR. 18-19 Mar. 2007. (by invitation)
“Seeing Traditions for the First Time: Photos of Jews of the Ozarks.” Midwest Jewish
Studies Association Conference. Cincinnati, OH.10-11 Sep. 2006.
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“Springfield: Jews of the Ozarks.” Missouri Folklore Society. Springfield, MO. 10-12
Nov. 2005. (by invitation)
“Documenting Jewish of the Ozarks: their reactions to the project.” Jewish Studies Area.
Midwest Popular Culture Association/Midwest American Culture Association. St. Louis, MO.14-16 Oct. 2005. (by invitation)
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“Evolution of the CCAR Haggadah: 1908 into 1923.” Midwest Jewish Studies Association Conference. Madison, WI.18-19 Sep. 2005.
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“The Challenges of Oral History Research in the Classroom and the Source
Community.” National Council on Public History. Kansas City, MO. 14-17 Apr.
2005.
“The Impact of the Documentary on the Jewish Community.” Recognizing and
Preserving the History of Ozarks’ Jews. Midwest Jewish Studies Association. Chicago, IL. 17-18 Oct. 2004.
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“Global Jewish Tourism.” Pilgrimages of Remembrance with Dimitri Ioannides.
Association of American Geographers. Philadelphia, PA. 15-19 Mar. 2004.
“‘But they’re JUST people’: Teaching Jewish American (auto)biography in a Jewishly
Impoverished University.” Midwest Jewish Studies Association and the Klutznick-Harris Symposium. Creighton University, Omaha, NB. 14-15 Sep. 2003.
“H. Berkowitz and S.S. Cohon: Hammering out a haggadah.” Midwest Jewish Studies
Association. Cleveland, OH. 20-21 Oct. 2002.
“Jewish Travel in the USA: A Case Study.” with Dimitri Ioannides. Midwest Jewish Studies Association. Chicago, IL. 28-29 Oct. 2001.
“Pilgrimages of Nostalgia: Patterns of Jewish Travel in the United States.” with Dimitri
Ioannides. Association of American Geographers. New York, NY. Feb.-Mar. 2001.
​
“An Examination of the Non-Liturgical Parts of CCAR Haggadot.” Midwest Jewish
Studies Association, East Lansing, MI. Sep. 2000.
​
“Teaching the Troops Trupin: A Jewish Text in a Non-Jewish Class.” Midwest Jewish
Studies Association, Champagne-Urbana, IL. Sep. 1997.
“The Haggadah’s Preface as a Reflection of the Decline of Jewish Women's Jewish
Literacy.” Western Jewish Studies Association, Tucson, AZ. Apr. 1997.
“Changes in American Reform Passover Liturgy in the Last 100 Years.” Conference on
College Composition and Communication. Phoenix, AZ. Mar. 1997.
“The Purpose of the Preface in American Haggadot.” MO Philological Association.
Missouri State University, Springfield, MO. 15-16 Mar. 1996.
Public Presentations
“The Holocaust: Causes and Prevention,” Taney Hills Community Library, Branson,
MO, 20 Apr. 2023.
​
“How Jews Helped Create Missouri,” United Hebrew Congregation of Joplin, 26 Feb.
2022.
“Why Hanukah is not Christmas,” Lebanon High School, Lebanon, Missouri, 14 Dec.
2022.
“Jewish Fur Traders and their Native Wives,” Beth Tikvah Synagogue, Toronto,
20 May 2022.
“Jews during the Civil War in the Ozarks,” Daughter of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Springfield, MO, 19 Feb. 2022.
“Jewish Fur Traders,” Seigel Lifelong Learning Center, Case Western Reserve
University, Cleveland, OH, 9 Feb. 2022.
“How Jews Helped Create Missouri,” St. Louis Genealogical Society’s Jewish Special
Interest Group, St. Louis, MO, 6 Feb. 2022.
“The Jews of the Ozarks,” Christian County Library, Clever, MO, 2 Dec. 2021.
Oral History, History Department, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO. 28 Sept.
2021.
“Judaism, Antisemitism, and Jewish Springfield,” American History, Central High
School, Springfield, MO, 13 Sept. 2021.
“How Jews Helped Create Missouri,” Livingston County Library, Chillicothe, MO., 27
July 2021.
“How Jews Helped Create Missouri,” Tuesday Women’s Association of the Ethical
Society of St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 15 June 2021.
Ozarks Jewry,” Geography 301: Geography of the Ozarks, Missouri State University,
Springfield, MO, 10 June 2021.
Discussion about Antisemitism with Karen Aroesty, Jewish Film Festival, Jewish Community Center, St. Louis, MO, June 2021.
“How Jews Helped Create Missouri,” St. John United Church of Christ-Justice &
Witness Committee, St. Louis, MO, 18 May 2021.
“Extra-terrestrials and Jews,” Company A, a Jewish Men’s Group, Boca Raton, FL, 26
Mar. 2021.
“Jews and Judaism,” Multicultural Days, Lebanon High School, Lebanon, Missouri, 12
Mar. 2021.
“Jewish Homesteaders: What was Life Like?,” Seigel Lifelong Learning Center, Case
Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Oh., 5 Feb. 2021.
“Walking tour of Downtown Jewish Springfield.” American Literature, Drury University,
Springfield, MO. 30 Sept. 2020.
“Mary Antin and the American Experience,” American Literature, Drury University,
Springfield, MO, 21 Sept. 2020.
“Jews of Springfield, MO,” Greene County Historical Society, Springfield, MO, 14
Sept. 2020.
“Invitation: Moving West: A History of the Jewish Mid-West,” Three-part course, Seigel Lifelong Learning Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Oh., 13, 20, 27 July 2020.
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“Judaism and Local Jewish History,” Intercultural Technical Writing, Missouri State
University, Springfield, MO. 28 Apr. 2020.
“Panel on Religion and Water: Earth Day Event,” Missouri Humanities Council,
webinar, 22 Apr. 2020.
“Anti-Semitism in Springfield, MO,” Nonviolent Resistance Class, Drury University,
Springfield, MO. 8 Apr. 2020.
“History of Jews in Springfield,” Greene County Democratic Party, Springfield, MO, 8
Jan. 2020.
“American Mid-West Jewish History,” CERMOM-INALCO, Paris, France, 18 Nov.
2019.
“The meaning of fasting in Judaism.” Interfaith Iftar, Springfield, MO, 16 May 2019.
“The Jewish History in the Ozarks.” Hadassah of Delray Beach, FL. 17 Oct. 2018.
“A Pioneering Tradition on the Frontier: The Development of the Jewish Community of
the Ozarks.” Florida Gulf State University, Fort Meyers, FL. 16 Oct. 2018.
“Being (non)White (non)Christian.” Living Stories, Missouri State University,
Springfield, MO. 26 Apr. 2018.
“Anti-Semitism in Springfield, MO,” Nonviolent Resistance Class, Drury University,
Springfield, MO. 28 Mar. 2018.
“History of Ozarks Jews.” Shiloh Museum, Springdale, AR. 21 Mar. 2018.
“Walking tour of Jewish downtown Springfield,” Introduction to Judaism, Missouri
State University, Springfield, MO, 7 Feb. 2018.
“Ozarks Judaism.” Introduction to Judaism, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, MO.
26 Sept. 2017.
“Responding to Anne Frank.” Cherokee Middle School, Springfield, MO. 31 March
2017.
“Creating Community: The Jewish Women of Springfield.” The Library Center,
Springfield, MO. 16 May 2017.
“A History of the Jewish Community in Rhodes.” The Jewish Center, Princeton, NJ. 4
Mar. 2017.
“Missouri Jewish History.” Anti-Defamation League, Missouri/Southern Illinois
Office, St. Louis, MO. 25 Jan. 2017.
“The Relationship between the Jews of Joplin and Springfield.” United Hebrew
Congregation, Joplin, MO. 13 May 2016.
“Jews of the Ozarks.” Jewish Studies Program, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
Fayetteville, AK. 6 April 2016.
Walking tour of Downtown Jewish Springfield.” Introduction to Judaism, Missouri
State University, Springfield, MO. 3 Feb. 2016.
“Local Jewish History.” Carver Middle School, Springfield, MO. 14-15 Dec. 2015.
“Defining an adult Jewish Women in Numbers 30.” Temple Israel, Springfield, MO. 17
July 2015.
“Golems and SciFi: The Golem and the Jinni: A Novel.” Science Fiction and Fantasy
Literature (ENG 366). Missouri State University. Springfield, MO. 1 Apr. 2015.
“Teeth of the Souls: A Springfield History of Race and Faith with Steve Yates.” The
Greater Springfield Race and Faith Collaborative, Missouri State University
Department of English and Hillel of Southwest Missouri. Fox Theater, History
Museum on the Square, Springfield, MO. 25 Mar. 2015.
“What is Judaism in Context of The Chosen?” English Class, Central High School,
Springfield, MO. 4 and 6 Feb. 2015.
“Anti-Semitism in Springfield.” History of Anti-Semitism. Drury University. Springfield, MO. 18 Nov. 2014.
​
“Ozarks Judaism.” Introduction to Judaism. Missouri State University. 10 Sept. 2014.
“Springfield Jews, American Jews: A presentation on local Jewish history.” Hillel of
Southwest Missouri State University and The History Museum on the Square, Springfield, MO. 15 May 2014.
“Folk Traditions for Passover and Seder.” Introduction to Jewish Folklore. Case
Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH. 3 Apr. 2014.
“What is Judaism in Context of The Chosen?” English Class, Central High School,
Springfield, MO. 19 and 21 Mar. 2014.
“The First Jews of Springfield and Their Legacy.” Christian County Historical Society,
Ozark, MO. 9 Mar. 2014.
“On Being a Jewish Woman.” Women and Religion (REL 370). Missouri State
University, Springfield, MO.11 Feb. 2014.
“How I wrote this book.” Ozarks Romance Authors. Springfield, MO. 2 Aug. 2014.
“Grading English Language Papers.” Academic Writing. Warsaw School of Social
Sciences and Humanities. Warsaw, Poland. 13 Nov. 2013.
“From Torah Heroes to Local Heroes – why should we remember?” Temple Israel,
Springfield, MO. 4 Oct. 2013.
“German Jewry in the Springfield Area.” German-Austrian-Swiss Society of the Ozarks
and the Greene County Historical Society, Springfield, MO. 22 Sept. 2013.
“Jews and the Holocaust.” Reed Middle School, Springfield, MO. 1 Apr. 2013.
“Talking Kinky.” English Department Lunchtime Scholarship. Missouri State University, Springfield, MO. 10 Oct. 2012.
​
“Jews and the Holocaust.” Reed Middle School, Springfield, MO. 16 Mar. 2012.
“Introduction to Judaism.” Scholars Program, Central High School, Springfield, MO. 26
Sep. 2011.
“What have we found? What do we do with our ‘stuff’?” Missouri Community Scholars
Regional Workshop, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO. 2-4 May 2011.
“What is Judaism?” English Language Institute. Missouri State University, Springfield,
MO. 15 Nov. 2010.
“Ozarks Jews.” Ozarks Religion (REL 530). Missouri State University, Springfield, MO.
21 Apr. 2010.
“Writing the Novel: A Process.” Introduction to Creative Writing (ENG 231). Missouri
State University, Springfield, MO. 12 Nov. 2009.
“History of the Reform Movement.” Introduction to Judaism (REL 330). Missouri State
University, Springfield, MO. 10 Nov. 2009.
​
“The Unfolding History of the Jewish Community of the Ozarks.” with M. Rachel
Gholson. Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives. Cincinnati Campus of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Cincinnati, OH. 16 June 2009.
​
“Ozarks Jews.” Ozarks Religion (REL 530). Missouri State University, Springfield, MO.
21 Apr. 2009.
“Jews of the Ozarks.” Taos Jewish Center, Taos, NM. 26 Mar. 2009.
“Jewish Women and Their Impact on America.” Women’s History Month, College of
Humanities and Public Affairs, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO. 13 March 2009.
“Jewish Culture and History in Salonika, Greece.” Kansas City’s Young Leadership
Forum, Kansas City, MO. 27 Jan. 2008.
“History of Ozarks Jews.” Ozarks History and Introduction to Judaism, Missouri State
University, Springfield, MO. 4 Nov. 2008.
“Ozarks Jewry and a Discussion of ‘But They’re JUST People’: Teaching Jewish
American (Auto)biography in a Jewishly Impoverished University.” Ozarks
Religion, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO. 11 Apr. 2008.
“Ozarks Jews.” Ozarks Religion (REL 530). Missouri State University, Springfield, MO.
Apr. 2008.
“Creating Historical Fiction.” International Children's Book Day. Duane D. Meyer
Library, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO. 2 Apr. 2008.
Recreating history in historical fiction.” Temple Israel, Springfield, MO.8 Feb. 2008.
“Cultural fences, Jewish life in the Ozarks.” Between the Fences. Mansfield, MO. 2
June 2007.
“Let’s Talk About It: Jewish Literature.” Nextbook Foundation/American Library
Association Program. Sponsored by Curriculum Resource Library, Meyer Library, Missouri State University with Springfield-Greene County Public Library and Springfield R-XII Public Schools. Springfield, MO. Spring 2008, Fall 2007.
​
“The Role of Women in Judaism.” Women and Religion (REL 370), Missouri State
University, Springfield, MO. 26 Feb. 2007.
“History of Ozarks Judaism” and Home Community, Tradition: The Women of Temple
Israel. Ethnic Literature, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO. 30 Nov. 2006.
​
“Explaining Jewish women” with Home, Community, Tradition: The Women of Temple
Israel. Church Women United, Springfield, MO. 5May 2006.
“Passover: An Introduction.” Biblical Hebrew, Missouri State University, Springfield,
MO. 5 Apr. 2006.
“The Jew as Tourist or Pilgrim.” Temple Israel. Springfield, MO. 13 Jan. 2006.
“The Role of Women in Judaism.” Women and Religion (REL 370), Missouri State
University, Springfield, MO. 22 Feb. 2006.
​
“History of Ozarks Jewry.” Jewish History Month. sponsored by the Drury Diversity
Center and Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, Drury University, Springfield, MO. 14 Sep. 2005.
“Telling Traditions.” with M. Rachel Gholson. Opening lecture for the Seeing Traditions photographic exhibition. Missouri State University, Springfield, MO. 28 Apr. 2005.
​
“The Role of Women in Judaism.” Women and Religion (REL 370), Missouri State
University, Springfield, MO. Feb. 2005.
“A History of the Jews of Greece.” Introduction to Greek, Drury University, Springfield, MO. 17 Nov. 2004, 5 Nov. 2003.
​
“The Role of Women in Judaism.” Women and Religion (REL 370), Missouri State
University, Springfield, MO. 8 Oct. 2003.
“A History of the Haggadah.” Jewish Community Center, Cleveland, OH. Sponsored by
the Samuel Rosenthal Center for Judaic Studies at Case Western Reserve University, in conjunction with the Jewish Community Center of Cleveland’s Alvin, Lottie and Rachel Gray Center for Jewish Life and Learning. Cleveland, OH. 2 Apr. 2003.
​
“Rabbinical Rhetoric: The dialogue of two rabbis concerning a liturgy.” Critical Reading Series, English Department, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO. 21 Feb. 2003.
​
“The Role of Women in Judaism.” Women and Religion (REL 370), Missouri State
University, Springfield, MO. 12 Feb. 2003.
“The Role of Women in Judaism.” Women and Religion (REL 370), Missouri State
University, Springfield, MO. 6 Nov. 2002.
​
“A History of the Haggadah.” Temple Israel. United Hebrew Congregations,
Springfield, MO. 9 Mar. 2002.
“Historical Debate and the Creation of the CCAR Haggadah.” Jacob Rader Marcus
Center of the American Jewish Archives. Cincinnati Campus of the Hebrew
Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Cincinnati, OH. 8 Jan. 2002.
“Nostalgia and the Return of the Seder to American Jewish Practice.” Temple Israel,
Springfield, MO. Apr. 2001.
“Examining The Memoirs of Glückle of Hameln.” Bimah, Bagels, and Books. Temple
Israel, Springfield, MO. Mar. 2001.
“The American Reform Haggadah and the Passover Seder.” Temple Israel, Springfield,
MO. Apr. 2000.
​
“A Jewish Woman’s Experience.” Women and Religion (REL 370), Missouri State University, MO. Oct. 1997.
​
“The Haggadah.” Temple Israel, Springfield, MO. Apr. 1997.
“Public Education in Europe and the United States and Its Impact on the Haggadah’s
Preface.” Critical Reading Series, English Department, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO. Sep. 1996.
​
“The Jewish Woman and Her Role in Jewish Society.” Women and Psychology Class,
Missouri State University, Springfield, MO. Nov. 1995.
“Creating a Professional Portfolio.” Presentation Techniques Class, Missouri State
University, Springfield, MO. Apr. 1995.
​
“Jewish Humor and Chelm Stories.” Children’s Literature, Missouri State University,
Springfield, MO. Fall 1994.
​
“Jewish Humor and Chelm Stories.” Children’s Literature, Missouri State University,
Springfield, MO. Spring 1994.
​
Readings
Selections from Yellow Jack and Turpentine. Soul of Poet Reading Series. Missouri
State University, Springfield, MO. 23 Jan. 2020.
​
Selections from We are in Exile/Estamos en Galut. Ozarks Poets and Writers Collective.
Nightbird Books, Fayetteville, AR. 26 Sept. 2017.
Lecture and selections from We are in Exile/Estamos en Galut. Kehila Kadosha Janina,
New York, NY. 5 Mar. 2017.
Selections from We are in Exile. Soul of a Poet Reading Series. The Library Center of
Springfield-Greene County. Springfield, MO. 13 Mar. 2012.
Selections from A Shout in the Sunshine. American Sephardi Federation, New York,
NY. 25 July 2010.
​
Lecture and selections from A Shout in the Sunshine. Princeton Public Library, Princeton, NJ. 25 Nov. 2008.
​
Lecture and selections from A Shout in the Sunshine. Well Fed Head, Springfield, MO.
14 June 2008.
Lecture and selections from A Shout in the Sunshine. Kehila Kedosha Janina, New
York, NY. 25 Nov. 2007.
​
Selections from A Shout in the Sunshine. Mikveh Israel. Philadelphia, PA. 28 July 2007.
​
Selections from A Shout in the Sunshine. Congregation Kol Am. St. Louis, MO. 23 June
2007.
Selections from A Shout in the Sunshine. Soul of a Poet Reading Series. The Library
Center of Springfield-Greene County. Springfield, MO. 17 Apr. 2007.
“Lucia.” English Society Reading: In Celebration of National Women’s History Month.
Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield, MO. 19 Mar. 1997.
Unpublished poetry. Women's Words Women’s Voices: A Celebration of Women’s
History Month. Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield, MO. 23 Mar. 1994.
​
Selections from Silent Winds (unpublished manuscript). Adath Israel Synagogue,
Trenton, NJ. 24 June 1988.
Fellowships
Summer Faculty Fellowship. Missouri State University. For “Never to be Forgotten:
Remembering the Jews of Greece.” Summer 2010.
​
Lowenstein-Wiener Fellowship at the Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American
Jewish Archives. Cincinnati Campus of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish
Institute of Religion, Cincinnati, OH. For “The Study of Ozarks Jewry” with M.
Rachel Gholson. 2008/2009.
​
Summer Faculty Fellowship. Missouri State University. For “Who says ‘Greek is for big
people’?: A collection of Greek Jewish stories for little people.” Summer 2002.
​
Marguerite R. Jacobs Fellowship at the Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American
Jewish Archives. Cincinnati Campus of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Cincinnati, OH. For “Historical Debate and the Creation of the Central Conference of American Rabbis’ Haggadah.” 2001/2002.
Awards
2020 Best General History, Midwest Independent Publishers Association for Search of
the Interior Borderlands: Where Does the Midwest End and the Great Plains
Begin?, Jon Lauck, ed. (Augustana University, 2019).
​
2008 Skipping Stones Honor Award for A Shout in the Sunshine (JPS, 2007).
“These books encourage understanding of the world’s diverse cultures, as well as nature and ecological richness. They promote cooperation, nonviolence, respect for differing viewpoints, and close relationships in human societies.” (Skipping Stones an International Multicultural Magazine).
​
2007 National Jewish Book Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature Finalist
for A Shout in the Sunshine (JPS, 2007).
“The National Jewish Book Awards is the longest running North American awards program of its kind in the field of Jewish literature and is recognized as the most prestigious. The awards, presented by category, are designed to give recognition to outstanding books, to stimulate writers to further literary creativity and to encourage the reading of worthwhile titles.” (National Jewish Book Award)
​
2007 Council for Advancement and Support of Education District VI, Bronze for Cherri
Jones and Mara Cohen Ioannides. “60th Anniversary of Anne Frank’s ‘Diary of a Young Girl.’” Missouri State Journal with Eric Eckert. KSMU, Springfield, MO. 17 July 2007, http://www.ksmu.org/mostatejournal/.
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College of Arts and Letters Award in Research. Missouri State University. 2004-2005.
Annual Meeting Enrichment Fund, Association of American Geographers. To present
“Global Jewish Tourism.” with Dimitri Ioannides. Pilgrimages of Remembrance Association of American Geographers. Philadelphia, PA. 15-19 Mar. 2004.
​
College of Arts and Letters Award in Research. Missouri State University. 1998-1999.
Grants
Kawaler Travel Award. Southern Jewish Historical Society. with M. Rachel Gholson
$2000. 2008-2009.
​
Collection Development Committee. Meyer Library, Missouri State University. $500.
May 2007.
Let’s Talk About It: Jewish Literature Reading and Discovery Program. Nextbook
Foundation/American Library Association Program. Sponsored by Curriculum Resource Library, Meyer Library, Missouri State University with Springfield-Greene County Public Library and Springfield R-XII Public Schools. with Cherri Jones, Curriculum Resource Center, Meyer Library, Missouri State University. $2,500. 2007-2008 academic year.
​
Community Foundation of the Ozarks. For “Seeing Traditions” with M. Rachel Gholson, English Department, Southwest Missouri State University. $2,435. 2004-2005 Academic year.
​
MO Arts Council — Folk Arts Program. For “Telling Traditions: Discovering the Ozarks’ Jewish Women” with M. Rachel Gholson, English Department, Missouri State University. A joint project of the Ozarks Studies Institute and Temple Israel of Springfield, MO.$2100. 2002-2003 academic year.
​
Faculty Research Grant. Missouri State University. For “Jewish Women’s Jewish Literacy and the Central Conference of American Rabbis’ Haggadah.” $1352. Summer 1997.