Defiance College names inaugural Krieger Visiting Scholar
January 25, 2018
DEFIANCE, Ohio - Dr. Wendy F. Soltz has been named the inaugural Charles K. and Esther C. Krieger Visiting Scholar at Defiance College.
Endowed by the Charles K. and Esther C. Krieger Foundation, the Visiting Scholar Program will bring religious specialists to the DC campus each year in the fields of Judaism, Christianity or Islam.
Dr. Soltz began her Visiting Scholar position with the spring semester. She will teach courses in her area of interest as well as the first-year seminar Global Issues. She will also coordinate a series on interfaith dialogue and understanding as well as engage in research benefiting students and society.
“We should all congratulate the DC community on being awarded the Krieger Foundation gift,” said Dr. Soltz. “It is truly a distinction to have such an opportunity here in Northwest Ohio and a reflection of the hard work and creative ideas of the administration, board and faculty.
“I’m honored to serve as the inaugural Krieger Visiting Scholar. Upon stepping onto campus, I felt the energy and excitement that an infusion of new perspectives brings. I’m thrilled to work with students, faculty and staff to foster a better understanding of the region’s religious diversity.”
In making the announcement of Dr. Soltz’s appointment, Defiance College president Dr. Richanne C. Mankey noted her extensive training and experience, making her an excellent fit for the Visiting Scholar program. “The program reinforces the four pillars of the college’s mission – to Know, to Understand, to Lead, to Serve,” she said. “We believe that this will foster transformative learning experiences and is also a nice match with the foundation’s mission which was established to, in part, ‘promote … educational, religious and cultural needs through such qualified charities.’”
Dr. Soltz holds a Ph.D. in Modern Jewish History from The Ohio State University. She earned a master of arts in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies from Brandeis University, a master of arts in Anthropology and Museum Studies from George Washington University, and a bachelor of arts in Anthropology from Indiana University. She was a graduate student in the Hebrew program at Hebrew University of Jerusalem and earned a certificate in Jewish Studies and Biblical Studies from Neve Yerushalayim in Israel.
She has presented numerous conference papers, participated in roundtable presentations, and published journal articles, manuscripts and other publications. She received many grants, fellowships and awards during her academic studies and research.
Dr. Soltz has taught at The Ohio State University, Purdue University North Central, Indiana University East, Columbus State Community College, George Washington University, and most recently at Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne.
She is executive director of the Indiana Jewish Historical Society. She is a member of Achduth VeSholom Synagogue in Fort Wayne, as well as Association for Jewish Studies, American Jewish Historical Society and the Council of American Jewish Museums.
Defiance College, chartered in 1850, is an independent, liberal arts-based institution in Northwest Ohio offering more than 40 undergraduate programs of study as well as graduate programs in education and business. Defiance College has received national recognition for its educational experience of service and engagement. The college website is www.defiance.edu.
