Student Ambassadors, who are declared Judaic Studies majors or minors from any academic year, offer prospective students a personal point of contact for inquiries about the Judaic Studies program. Ambassadors warmly welcome new students into the department and provide valuable student insights into the Judaic Studies experience. Moreover, ambassadors participate in campus-wide fairs and actively contribute to creating student-centric events and activities each term.
Meet your 2025-2026 Student Ambassadors
Full Name: Peter Cohn
Pronouns: He/Him
Major(s): Judaic Studies, Music Composition, Music Theory
Minor(s): Middle East Studies
Year in College: Class of 2027
Hometown: Ann Arbor, MI
Favorite Judaic Studies Class: Judaic 210 (Sources of Jewish History)
Student Organizations:
Going into college, I knew I wanted to continue to learn about Jewish history and culture, but as a music student hoping to pursue a career in the arts, I wasn’t sure how to fit Judaic Studies into my academic life. I chose to come to Michigan in part because the Judaic Studies program here offers an enormous amount of flexibility and integration across disciplines while at the same time having a level of depth and opportunity in the field of Judaic Studies that’s really one of a kind. The program has allowed me to maintain multiple areas of study while also pushing me with the rigor that you’d expect and hope for from a place like Michigan.Beyond just studying Judaic and Middle Eastern Studies alongside music, I’ve found ways to connect them, and I’m interested in finding ways to explore the world of Jewish music through both an artistic and academic lens. I’m also really interested in Jewish history, modern geopolitics, and different cultural expressions of Jewishness. I’m always happy to chat about what the department can offer and how it can fit in with each person’s unique programs and pathways!
Full Name: Samantha Caminker (she/they)
Degrees: Major(s): Judaic Studies, Cognitive Science
Minor (s): Writing, STS (Science, Technology, and Society)
Year in College: Sophomore, Class of 2028
Hometown: Ann Arbor & West Bloomfield, MI
Favorite Judaic Studies Class:
Student Organizations: Hillel Book Club, Shulchan Ivrit, Hillel Phonathon
Bio: As soon as I was accepted to Michigan, I knew that I would be taking a lot of Judaic Studies classes. I’ve already had so much fun in the classes I’ve taken, and I’m very excited to continue learning through the Judaic Studies major. I’m also psyched now to be an ambassador of the program to get other students informed about and interested in this awesome department! I was born here in Ann Arbor but moved to West Bloomfield at 12 and only just moved back for college, so I’m still rediscovering the city. (If anyone has recommendations for cool, interesting places, I’d love to hear them!) My biggest interests right now are reading, biking, and listening to my record collection. I’m always happy to meet for coffee to talk about the Judaic Studies department, Hillel, or anything else about my Michigan experience so far!
