Gifts in Action - Professor Matti Bunzl

MEET MATTI BUNZL

Matti Bunzl is a Professor in Anthropology for the Jewish Studies Program and the recipient of the Aaron and Robin Fischer Endowed Professorship in Anthropology. He has written numerous published papers, articles and book chapters as well as reviewed and edited many other publications. He has given public lectures and presentations at several universities in the U.S. and Germany. His research interests include the anthropology of contemporary Austria and Central Europe, transformations in German–Jewish culture and history, the history of anthropology, the cultural and literary fields of fin-de-siécle Vienna and contemporary anthropological theory.

This endowment enabled Prof. Bunzl to continue his research in Jewish Culture and Society at the University of Illinois. Without this gift, Bunzl’s position as Assistant Professor in Anthropology along with three junior professor positions specifically for the Jewish Studies Program would not have existed.

WHAT HE SAYS

Bunzl stated that most endowed professorships are awarded to established and well-known professors; therefore, he was very thankful for receiving this opportunity immediately after obtaining his Ph.D. “I owe my entire career to this endowment,” said Bunzl. “Without this professorship, I definitely wouldn’t be here.”

Aaron and Robin Fischer Endowed Professorship in Anthropology

The Aaron and Robin Fischer Endowed Professorship in Anthropology is a part of the Drobny Program in Jewish Culture and Society established by Sheldon and Anita Drobny and their associates in the Paradigm Group.