Staff

Ted Merwin joined the Dickinson community in 2000. In addition to directing the Asbell Center, he is an associate professor of religion and Judaic studies. He teaches courses on American Jewish history, Jewish masculinity, Jewish food, Jewish theater and film, and secular Judaism. Ted graduated from Amherst College in 1990 and went on to a Ph.D. in theater from the City University of New York Graduate Center. For the past decade, he has written a weekly theater column for The (New York) Jewish Week. His articles have also appeared in the The New York Times, Washington Post, Moment, Hadassah, Sondheim Review and many other publications. Ted's first book, In their Own Image: New York Jews in Jazz Age Popular Culture, focuses on 1920s Jewish culture in New York. He is at work on his second book, a history of the New York Jewish delicatessen. Ted is a frequent lecturer on American Jewish culture.  To read more on Ted Merwin, please view his website at http://www.tedmerwin.com/ 

Lori Loudon joined Dickinson in 2009 after working at the Carlisle Area School District for seven years. Prior to that, she worked for 14 years at the Navy Ships Parts Control Center in the Strategic Submarine Support Department in Mechanicsburg, Penn. She then took time off to raise her children at home. She is married and has two children. Lori enjoys traveling, reading and snorkeling. As the program and administrative assistant at the Asbell Center, Lori organizes special events, holiday celebrations, alternative spring break trips, lectures and many other special occasions. 

As the Pincus Engagement Student, Terri Soifer encourages Jewish students to take the next step on their individual Jewish journey. She reaches out to Jewish students on a one-to-one basis, getting to know their background, skills, interests and passions. Terri informs students about upcoming Hillel and Asbell Center events, helps them secure funding for Jewish-themed activities and encourages them to apply for Birthright Israel and alternative spring break trips.

As the Asbell Center intern, Tesha Chai helps organize and publicize Shabbat and holiday celebrations, social activities, lectures, concerts, theatrical performances, discussion groups and alternative spring break trips.