Religious Studies Program at CAS Receives Major Gift

    Recent NYU graduate Jonathan A. Lerner (CAS ’07) and his family’s foundation have made a contribution to establish a new permanent fund for the Religious Studies Program in the College of Arts and Science.

      The Annette M. and Theodore N. Lerner Family Fund for Religious Studies will be used to enrich the program’s offerings by supporting faculty research and travel grants, student research scholarships, undergraduate instruction and course support, symposia and conferences, lecture series, and other special events. The contribution was made through the Lerner family’s foundation, which is named in honor of Jonathan’s grandparents.

      “Jonathan had such a wonderful experience at NYU, and he urged our family to contribute to the school that means so much to him,” says Mark D. Lerner, Jonathan’s father. “It was really Jonathan’s desire to give something back. Giving to the Religious Studies Program was his idea, and the entire family was unanimous in its support.”

      Jonathan earned a degree in both religious studies and also middle eastern and Islamic studies from the college in spring 2007. He is now working toward a law degree at Georgetown University Law Center and believes that his undergraduate studies prepared him for his future career.

      “Religious studies teaches you to be open minded and to listen, analyze, and think before you speak,” Jonathan says. “I remember walking into my first religious studies class with Professor Adam Becker. He was talking about religion in a way I never thought possible. I knew immediately I was going to learn something new.

      “We want the fund to provide the program with a foundation that will help it grow in the years to come,” he adds.

      “The study of religion is more important than ever at this time in history,” says Matthew Santirocco, dean of the College of Arts and Science. “The Lerner Family Foundation has demonstrated great vision in understanding the need for this study at this moment.”

      Angela Zito, director of the program, notes that this is the first time it has received a gift of this magnitude.

            “NYU has been in the process of building religious studies for the last decade, and the Lerner Foundation’s gift will be very helpful in this effort,” she explains. “It is tremendous to have our teaching practice be appreciated in this way by a recent graduate.”