Hana Bor, Ph.D.

Biography

Dr. Bor brings a world of teaching and education administration experience to Towson University. She was raised in Israel and worked there as a social worker bringing together immigrants from many cultures, native languages and educational backgrounds. In addition, she put her studies to work in community life serving as the director of a school and a teacher of teachers. In the United States, she worked in the academic realm as an associate professor at Baltimore Hebrew University. Since 2009, she has taught at Towson University and became a full professor in the Family Studies Department.

Dr. Bor created and led undergraduate and graduate programs such as the 5-year BA/MA degree program in Family Science/Jewish Studies, Education and Communal Leadership and the master’s degree in leadership in Jewish Education and Communal Service. She organizes and leads students on study-abroad trips to Israel and Eastern Europe, creating shared experiences with school administrators, teachers and other students. In addition, she involves her students in joint programs between Baltimore and Odessa, Ukraine.

Dr. Bor continues teaching to deepen students’ understanding of life and education around the world and to implement problem-solving in today’s schools and communities. She works closely with the Baltimore Hebrew Institute at Towson University, developing programs and seminars for the Baltimore educational community, Towson University students, and faculty. Dr. Bor is also the founding director of the Sandra R. Berman Center for Humanity, Tolerance and Holocaust Education, which aims to collaborate with Maryland educators to advance Holocaust education and empower future generations.

She sits on various university committees such as the College of Liberal Arts Diversity Committee, the University Faculty and Research Committee and the Faculty Salary Review Committee. Dr. Bor also connects the university with the Jewish community and global organizations. She has organized national and international conferences and symposia.   

Her research interests are in Holocaust education, leadership, democracy, diversity and management of non-profit organizations. Recently, she was working with a team of researchers from Towson University and Kibbutzim College in Israel on a joint project that focused on enhancing dignity, democracy and diversity in higher education. Her current research focuses on how to bring Holocaust education into communities.

Selected Publications

Ketko, T.; Bor, H. (Editors) (2023) Enhancing Values of Dignity, Democracy, and Diversity in Higher Education: Comparative Insights for Challenging Times. Education Routledge/Taylor and Francis Group.

Ketko, T.; Bor, H. and Weintrob, L. (2022). Teaching the Holocaust: Asking Difficult Questions About Human Dignity. Chapter in proposed book “The Three D's – Dignity, Democracy, and Diversity: Constructive Ideas in Challenging Times.”

Bor, H., and Rebecca Shargel (2020). The merger of Baltimore Hebrew University and Towson University: Three leadership models converging. International Journal of Educational Management.

Bor, H., and Ketko, A. (2019). A University Reinvents Itself: A Case Study for Understanding Strategic Mergers and Integration between Academic Institutions. Review of International Comparative Management; Vol. 20 Issue 3.

Bor, H., and Galupo, M. P. (2018). Using creative leadership to transform Jewish education. Jewish Educator Journal.

Bor, H. and Shawn, K. (2013). Examining Jewish values in Kindertransport narratives. Prism: An Interdisciplinary Journal for Holocaust Educators, 5. 

Bor, H. (2013). Training educators to use technology in the Jewish classroom. Journal of Jewish Communal Service, 88(1/2). 

Bor, H. (2013). What can we learn from secular education about teacher training in Jewish education? Issues and questions driving my work in Jewish education. The Jewish Educator. 

Bor, H. (2013). Promoting a culture of learning and collaborative leadership in a congregational school through inspired professional development. Jewish Educational Leadership, 12(1).

Bor, H. (2012). Empowering students from infancy to adulthood:  A case study in Jewish education. Jewish Educational Leadership, 10(2). 

Bor, H. (2011). A model for using diversity to bridge cultural differences. The Jewish Educator. 

Bor, H. (2011). “Can justice ever be done?” The Nuremburg trials: Their effectiveness and relevancy today. Jewish Teaching Resources. The Lookstein Center for Jewish Education.

Bor, H. (2011).  Ethical and moral issues pertaining to cystic fibrosis. Jewish Teaching Resources. The Lookstein Center for Jewish Education. 

Shargel, R. and Bor, H. (2011). A new model for Jewish teacher training:  Bridging the worlds of Jewish and public education. The Jewish Educator. 

Grants

Towson University

Applied for and received $20,000 grant from The Charles Crane Family Foundation for support for 2015-2016 Israel study abroad program.

Wrote and received $10,000 grant from The Charles Crane Family Foundation for scholarships and support for 2013-2014 Israel study abroad program.

Applied for and received $39,300 in funding for summer 2014 and semester-long Institute for Creative Leadership Institute for Jewish Educators.

Applied for and received $54,375 in funding for summer 2012 and year-long Institute for Instructional Leaders in Jewish Education.

Wrote and received $20,000 grant from the Beverly Fine Funds through The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore for Israel education, which allows participants to study in Israel and to plan study abroad in Israel programs for 2011-2012.

Designed study abroad in Israel program and received $45,000 in two grants for program support and student scholarships: $30,000 grant from the Ben and Esther Rosenbloom Foundation and $15,000 grant from The Charles Crane Family Foundation for 2011-2012.

Recipient of 2011 the France Merrick Award for $3,100 to assist in research in Israel, New York City, and Washington, D.C. of most promising teaching practices on the Holocaust.

Alfred Lerner Fellow of 2011 Summer Institute for Teachers ($4,000), with a $300 stipend from Baltimore Jewish Council, to engage in intense study of the Holocaust and teaching practices, selected by The Jewish Foundation for the Righteous.

Baltimore Hebrew University

Developed grant support for travel to Israel for MAJE and Jewish Communal Service students.

Developed grant support for Ukrainian educators to study in Israel and the United States as part of the ODESSA partnership program.

Developed grant support for MAJE students to attend the annual CAJE conference and network with fellow Jewish educators, supporting the internship and placement programs.

Developed grant support for community teachers to get certified in early childhood education, supporting local schools and student referrals.

Established a first-in-the-nation Infant Toddler Certificate program in Jewish education and developed grant support to train and certify community teachers.

Developed grant support for 11th and 12th graders to earn college credit.

Memberships/Affiliations

Association of Institutions of Higher Learning for Jewish Education

Network for Research in Jewish Education

Israeli Network for Research in Education

Coalition for Advancement in Jewish Education

National Association of Temple Educators

Alliance for Adult Jewish Learning

American Jewish University Alumni Association

Mandel Teacher Educator Institute

BLEWS- The Black/Jewish Forum of Baltimore

MAZON- Jewish Response to Hunger

Association of Jewish Studies Jewish Communal Service Association

Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development

Licenses and Certifications

Reform Jewish Educator Certification, Union of American Hebrew Congregations, Hebrew Union College

Permanent Principals License, National Board of License for Teachers and Supervisory Personnel in American Jewish Schools

Permanent License, Instructor, Hebrew School, Board of Teacher Certification and Licensing for Jewish Schools in Baltimore

Courses Taught

• Spring 2017: FMST 360 Diversity, Culture, and Team Dynamics
• Spring 2017: LJEC 614/618 Jewish Communal Service Practicum Seminar/ Internship
• Spring 2017: LJEC 650 Exploration of Holocaust Education