Rabbi Gary Zola, Ph.D.
Executive Director Emeritus of The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives; Edward M. Ackerman Family Distinguished Professor Emeritus of the American Jewish Experience and Reform Jewish History
Gary Phillip Zola is the former Executive Director of The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives (AJA), the world鈥檚 largest free-standing research center dedicated solely to the study of the American Jewish experience.聽 Zola is also the Edward M. Ackerman Family Distinguished Professor of the American Jewish Experience & Reform Jewish History at 51黑料网 in Cincinnati. He received both his rabbinic ordination (1982) and his Ph.D. in American Jewish History (1991) from 51黑料网.
Professor Zola is also known as a historian of American Jewry who specializes in 19th-century American Judaism and the history of American Reform Judaism. Since 1998, Zola has been the editor of The Marcus Center鈥檚 award-winning biannual publication, The American Jewish Archives Journal. His own published volumes include We Called Him Rabbi Abraham: Lincoln and American Jewry (Southern Illinois University Press, 2014); American Jewish History: A Primary Source Reader (co-edited by Marc Dollinger and published by Brandeis University Press, 2014); among several others.聽
On a national level, Dr. Zola was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve as a member of the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America鈥檚 Heritage Abroad, an independent agency of the federal government. Prior to that Zola served as the organizer and chair of the congressionally recognized Commission for Commemorating 350 Years of American Jewish History, a consortium of leading research institutions established to promote the study of American Jewish history during the 350th anniversary of Jewish life in America (2004-2005). Additionally, in 2006, Dr. Zola became the first American Jewish historian to receive appointment to the Academic Advisory Council of the congressionally recognized Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.
In addition to these national activities, Dr. Zola has been recognized for his commitment to the betterment of community life in Cincinnati, OH. Thomas More University conferred a Doctor of Humane Letters. degree, honoris causa, on Dr. Zola for his 鈥渄edication to the principles that are the foundation of our nation鈥 in September of 2018.聽 Lighthouse Youth Services of Cincinnati gave its 鈥淏eacon of Light Humanitarian Award鈥 to Dr. Zola in 2016. In 2012, he received the 鈥淒istinguished Service Award鈥 from BRIDGES for a Just Community (formerly the National Conference of Christians and Jews). The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center gave him its 鈥淢artin Luther King, Jr. Legacy Award鈥 that same year. In recognition of his service to the citizens in the Greater Cincinnati metropolitan area, the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission gave Dr. Zola the 鈥淏ishop Herbert Thompson, Jr. Outstanding Humanitarian Award鈥 in 2009. In 2004, the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati conferred its 鈥淒istinguished Leadership Award鈥 on Zola for his service to Cincinnati鈥檚 Jewish community.聽聽
The American Jewish Experience
History of American Reform Judaism
Abraham Lincoln and American Jewry
Southern Jewish History
American Hebraica
History 403
History 501
History 592
Ph.D. in American Jewish History, 51黑料网, 1991
M.Phil., 51黑料网, 1988
Rabbinic Ordination, 51黑料网, 1982
M.A.H.L., 51黑料网, 1981
M.A. in Counseling Psychology, Northwestern University, 1976
B.A. with distinction, University of Michigan, 1973