Photos by Fred Murray Jr.

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HMC Interim Director Cheryl Guyer of Huntington Woods, donors David and
Nanci Farber of Franklin, HMC President Gary Karp, MSU Holocaust Studies Chair
Amy Simon, MSU Vice President for University Advancement Robert Groves, and
Michael and Elaine Serling of Orchard Lake

MSU
Commitment

Accomplished scholar
becomes state’s first
Holocaust chair.

Keri Guten Cohen

Story Development Editor

O

n Sunday, Sept. 11 — the
15th anniversary of the
attacks of 9-11 — Amy
Simon made a speech before 225
people at the Holocaust Memorial Center
in Farmington Hills, comparing the ter-
rorism on 9-11 with the terrors of the
Holocaust.
It was an apt comparison coming from
Michigan State University’s William and
Audrey Farber Family Endowed Chair in
Holocaust Studies and European Jewish
History, the only such chair in the state.
This was Simon’s public introduction
to Detroit’s Jewish community, and she
made a strong impression.
She was introduced by Sherman
Garnett, who heads MSU’s James
Madison College, where Simon will
devote 75 percent of her time. The rest
will be with the College of Arts and
Letters.
“Amy is perfect for this job,” he said.
“She saw the vision for this and wanted
to come to Michigan and do this work.”
Simon told the crowd, “This is the cul-
mination of everything I’ve been work-

Barbara and Douglas Bloom of
Birmingham, Barbara Cantor of West
Bloomfield, Gail Kaplan of Farmington
Hills and Elaine Serling of Orchard Lake

ing for for the last 15 years and more.”
This chair signifies a “perpetual
change of our university life,” Garnett
said, explaining that the endowed gift by
the Farber family means the chair will
continue into perpetuity.
“This is a proud moment for me and
board of Jewish studies at MSU,” said
Michael Serling, who proposed the
Holocaust chair a year ago. “I’m kvelling
that this is all happening. I’m kvelling
that the Farbers had the willingness and
resources to create the chair. I’m kvelling
that Holocaust education will continue
at MSU.
“I’m proud MSU is so passionate
about this chair and so passionate about
promoting diversity in the American
landscape. This chair will have a huge
impact on MSU, the state, the nation and
internationally.”

*

MSU’s James Madison
College Dean Sherman
Garnett presents an award
to Nanci and David Farber of
Franklin, right, whose family
created the endowed chair,
as MSU College of Arts and
Letters Dean Christopher
Long listens.

92 September 29 • 2016