The Raoul Wallenberg Institute at the University of Michigan fosters the values embodied by Raoul Wallenberg—empathy, tolerance, courage, and leadership—by studying hatred directed against religious and ethnic communities, fostering cross-cultural understanding, and elevating civic discourse. Through teaching, research, and public engagement, the Institute will develop strategies to combat antisemitism, divisiveness, and discrimination.
The Institute came into existence on July 1, 2024 with the appointment of Jeffrey Veidlinger, the Joseph Brodsky Collegiate Professor of History and Judaic Studies, as inaugural director. During its first year of operation, the Institute established its operating structure, welcomed research fellows, initiated research projects, developed courses, engaged in public and student outreach, and forged relations with campus and community resources.
Your Gifts at Work
The Raoul Wallenberg Institute is pleased to introduce the Samantha Woll Dialogues, a series of public events bringing experts from various viewpoints together to tackle some of today's most pressing issues. Designed to embody the core values of Raoul Wallenberg, the Samantha Woll Dialogues promote empathy, tolerance, courage, and leadership.
All public dialogues are recorded professionally and made available on the Institute website. The dialogues have attracted audiences of between 120-180 participants, drawn from students, faculty, and the wider community.
The Institute collaborated with the National History Day Project. A partnership was established with National History Day to create teacher resources and guides for middle and high school educators on topics of ethnic and religious tolerance.
In partnership with University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research, the Wallenberg Institute developed a new longitudinal survey for University of Michigan students that will launch in fall 2025 to gauge student feelings and understanding about religious and ethnic minorities.
The Institute plans to use the survey results not only to learn how campus affects students over time, but also to determine the best ways to advise university and national leadership in setting best practices for a welcoming and respectful campus environment for all.
The Institute relaunched the Michigan in the World (MITW) program in partnership with the University of Michigan Eisenberg Institute for Historical Studies, the Bentley Historical Library, and the Department of History. The Summer 2025 MITW project was a study of Hatred in the Great Lakes region, focusing on the collections housed at the Bentley Historical Library, including materials by Henry Ford, the Michigan Militia, Father Coughlin, and more.
Giving Opportunities
Raoul Wallenberg Institute Fund - 702857
Gifts will be used to provide support for the Raoul Wallenberg Institute, including its primary focus to research and combat antisemitism and foster the values Raoul Wallenberg represented: courage, empathy, and leadership.
To explore additional high-priority major giving opportunities, including Visiting Professional Residency, Community Outreach, Wallenberg Internships, and planned giving, please contact Stacy Clark, Assistant Dean, LSA Advancement (clarksta@umich.edu) to begin a conversation.
Thank you for supporting the Raoul Wallenberg Institute at the University of Michigan.
