Dr. Danny Admasu is a Visiting Research Assistant Professor who will support Global Affairs, Judaic Studies, Philosophy, the Laboratory for the Study and Prevention of Global Antisemitism, and the Levant Project.  He will engage in research, make presentations and workshops in Fall 2026 and teach a course in Spring 2027. He will also co-organize the next installment of the conference and workshop “Black Jewish Scholars on Antiblack Racism and Antisemitism.”

Shirly Afrimi is a graduate student at UConn’s School of Social Work who is serving as Graduate Assistant for the Center for Judaic Studies and Contemporary Jewish Life. She will develop public programs for the Laboratory for the Study and Prevention of Global Antisemitism and assist with website development, student engagement, and helping to plan a collaborative research project between UConn and the University of Haifa on antisemitism and anti-Zionism.

Sophie Rifkin is working as the Student Written Communications Specialist at the Center for Judaic Studies and Contemporary Jewish Life. She has been tasked with increasing student engagement through social media development and management, academic course and event promotion, and collaboration with student-facing UConn organizations such as UConn Hillel, Chabad at UConn, and other UConn student activity groups.