Gildenhorn Family Gift Supports Signature Lecture Series at the University of Maryland
February 26, 2026
Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Daniel Shapiro, will be the inaugural speaker on March 24
The Gildenhorn Institute for Israel Studies is proud to announce the launch of a new flagship public program, The Gildenhorn Family Lecture Series, a distinguished lecture series dedicated to the rigorous exploration of Israeli politics, society, culture and foreign affairs.
The new series builds on the institute’s longstanding tradition of excellence established by the Dubin Family Lecture Series. For 15 years, the Dubin series served as a cornerstone of intellectual engagement, bringing leading scholars, policymakers, journalists and public figures to campus to foster informed and nuanced discussions about Israel from multiple perspectives. The new lecture series proudly continues this legacy while expanding opportunities for critical inquiry and public dialogue.
“The Gildenhorn Family Lecture Series advances the vision that our family has always cherished: building bridges through knowledge and civil discourse where difficult questions can be examined with integrity and respect,” said Alma Gildenhorn, an honorary trustee of the University of Maryland College Park Foundation and benefactor of the institute.
The inaugural lecture in the new series will be delivered by Daniel B. Shapiro, former United States Ambassador to Israel, who will speak on U.S.–Israel relations in a changing Middle East. Ambassador Shapiro’s remarks will address the evolving strategic, diplomatic and political challenges shaping the bilateral relationship amid regional transformation.
Ambassador Shapiro is uniquely suited to inaugurate the Gildenhorn Family Lecture Series. While serving as U.S. Ambassador to Israel from 2011 to 2017, under President Barack Obama, he played a central role in strengthening U.S.–Israel cooperation during a period of significant regional upheaval. He has since continued to engage deeply with Middle East policy as a senior official in the Biden Administration and as a fellow at leading think tanks in the U.S. and Israel. His combination of diplomatic experience, policy expertise and intellectual engagement embodies the values of informed analysis and public dialogue that the new Gildenhorn Family Lecture Series seeks to promote.
“We are committed to academic excellence and to creating spaces for thoughtful, substantive conversations about Israel as envisioned by Alma Gildenhorn and in memory of her late husband Ambassador Joseph Gildenhorn,” said Professor Ilai Saltzman, director of the Gildenhorn Institute for Israel Studies and associate research professor of Israel studies. “We are so grateful for the support that makes the Gildenhorn Family Lecture Series possible.”
Through lectures, conversations and public forums, the Gildenhorn Family Lecture Series will explore a diverse range of topics, including Israeli governance and democracy, regional and international relations, social and cultural dynamics, and Israel’s place in a rapidly evolving global landscape. Events will be open to students, faculty and the broader public, reinforcing the institute’s mission to promote informed scholarship and civic engagement.
“The Gildenhorn Family Lecture Series contributes to the important and nuanced conversations that we prioritize in the College of Arts and Humanities,” said Dean Stephanie Shonekan. “Many thanks to Alma Gildenhorn for helping us to continue this critical scholarly and community engaged work.”
About the Gildenhorn Institute for Israel Studies
The Gildenhorn Institute for Israel Studies is dedicated to advancing the academic study of modern Israel through teaching, research, and public programming. The Institute serves as a hub for interdisciplinary scholarship and dialogue, fostering a deeper understanding of Israel’s politics, society, and international relations.