Faculty

Olga Gershenson, assistant professor
[gershenson<at>judnea.umass.edu | tel (413) 545-5871 | fax (413) 545-5876]

Professor Gershenson earned her doctorate in Communication in the United States, her master’s degree in Israel, and her bachelor’s degree in Russia.

Professor Gershenson’s recent book Gesher: Russian Theatre in Israel; A Study of Cultural Colonization (Peter Lang, 2005) focuses on relations between Russian-Jewish immigrants and veteran Israelis through the story of the theatre. Professor Gershenson’s research on Israel cultural studies and critical ethnography has appeared in the academic journals Multilingua, Western Journal of Communication, Journal of International Communication and others. Her other research interests include women’s studies and feminist discourse analysis. She co-edited a special issue of the Journal of International Women's Studies dedicated to the gendered construction of space.
Her current project deals with the Jewish themes in contemporary Russian cinema, as well as with the Russian-Jewish filmmakers working in Israel.
Professor Gershenson teaches courses on contemporary Israeli society and culture, on the history and cultural expressions of Russian Jews, and on Jewish immigration.

To learn more about Professor Gershenson’s research, see her website www.people.umass.edu/olga