Elon’s commitment to create a vibrant, inclusive campus caught the attention of parents Eric and Lori Sklut. The couple made a $250,000 gift through the Levine-Sklut Family Foundation to endow the Lori and Eric Sklut Emerging Scholar in Jewish Studies. This endowment will significantly expand and enrich Elon’s Jewish Studies program, which will benefit all students.
“Elon embraces a pluralistic view of society and is making inroads in enhancing diversity, and we want to be part of that,” says Eric, founder of Perfection Automotive Inc., and vice chair of the board for the Center for Jewish Studies at his alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “You can’t have a truly global liberal arts education without having a Jewish Studies program. It’s important for people of all faiths.”
The Emerging Scholar in Jewish Studies will bring outstanding research and expertise to the discipline. As the program grows, earnings from the endowment could support opportunities for visiting scholars, guest lecturers, course development and other initiatives that enrich the program. The couple’s son, Mason, is an Elon junior who has been active in the university’s Hillel organization.
“Lori and I want our kids to be in an environment where they can have exchanges with people of different faiths and from different cultures,” Eric says. “Our hope is that this program will grow and spark additional interest among donors who may not be aware that this opportunity is available.”