The Potter College of Arts and Letters Department of History recently added a new professor of Jewish Studies, Timothy Quevillon.

The history department obtained a grant in 2022 to hire a visiting Jewish Studies professor. The position is funded by the Jewish Heritage Fund for Excellence, a Louisville-based organization, Quevellion said. Quevillon filled the position for this academic year.

“I took this job [to have] the chance to focus on Jewish studies and Jewish history, but also to be able to work with Jewish students building our local communities,” Quevillon said. 

Quevillon completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Kansas where he majored in Russian literature and history. He then completed his master’s degree at Sam Houston State University and his PhD in History at the University of Houston.

“My research focus is on Kentucky and Tennessee so I am really excited about being able to tap into the local community, our local histories, and the local identity within the state,” Quevillon said.

This semester, Quevillon is teaching the course “US History Since 1865.” This class is often taken by history, social studies and political science majors, and is a general overview of US History.

“Within [the class], I love highlighting the diversity of American history because too often, people look at American history and just think of old dead presidents, and it is so much more than that,” Quevillon said.

The Department of History and the Jewish Heritage Fund for Excellence will be hosting a Rosh Hashanah dinner on September 15 at 6 p.m. at the Honors College and International Center. 

Quevillon said the dinner will be a way for both Jewish and non-Jewish students, faculty and community members to come together and celebrate a holiday that most people are unaware even exists.

“Jewish history is a lot of people’s history. Within Jewish history, there’s stories of migration, persecution, politics, and survival. That’s something that, even if you’re not Jewish is very relatable,” Quevillon said.

News Reporter Ali Costellow can be reached at ali.costellow453 @topper.wku.edu