Bernice Heilbrunn

617 Agnes Arnold Hall
Phone: (713) 743-3501
Email: baheilbrunn@central.uh.edu

Education

University of Houston, Ph.D., U.S. History; minor: German History, May 2012

Dissertation: Faith as Motive for Reform: Emil G. Hirsch and Chicago Jewish Progressives

Defended with distinction March 2012

         Advisors: Dr. Hannah Decker, Dr. Landon Storrs, Dr. Kathleen Brosnan

Harvard Law School, J.D., June 1974

Third Year Paper: The Outer Continental Shelf Act and International Efforts to Conserve Resources of the Sea

Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, M.A. History, June 1971

         Thesis: The Rivers & Harbors Act of 1899 and the Conservation Movement in America

Harvard College, B.A. cum laude, History, June 1970

         Thesis: Emil G. Hirsch: Reform Advocate

Selected Fellowships and Awards

Lucien Littauer Foundation Travel Grant, December 2012

John King Outstanding Graduate Student Award, 2012

University of Houston History Department Core Teaching Fellow, 2011

Jacob Rader Marcus Center Fellow, Starkoff Fellowship, American Jewish Archives, 2009

Murray Miller Scholarship, University of Houston, 2006-2007, 2009, 2010, 2011

Woodrow Wilson Fellow, 1970

Isabella Barr Scholarship, Radcliffe, 1970-1971

Regents Scholarship (New York State), 1970-1971

Teaching Experience

Teaching Assistant, University of Houston, 2006-2009, 2011

U.S. History to 1877, U.S. History 1877-Present; History of Globalization

Certificate of University Teaching, May 2012

Instructor, National Havurah Summer Institute, New Hampshire, July 2006

Created and taught mini-course in 19th century German-Jewish history and culture, integrating history, religious studies, art, literature, music, and architecture.

Classes in effective writing skills; harassment training

Created and taught classes for more than 200 supervisors and engineers, Lyondell Chemical Company, 1995-1999

Adjunct Professor, Bates School of Law, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996

Created and taught Superfund, RCRA, and Advanced Environmental Law Topics courses

Occupational Health & Safety training for professionals, NJ, 1989

Instructor, Paralegal Institute, Morristown, NJ, 1987-1988

Prepared and taught courses in paralegal courses in legal research and probate procedures

Resident Tutor and Pre-Law Advisor, Harvard College, 1972-1974

Invited Lectures and Presentations

"Jennie Franklin Purvin, Chicago Jewish Progressive" presented at the Association for Jewish Studies annual conference, December 2012.

“One of the best friends of the Afro-American race:” Judaism and one Rabbi’s Outreach to African Americans during the Progressive Era,” Association of Jewish Studies Annual Conference, December 2011

 “Atlantic Crossings Redux: Emil Hirsch, Chicago Jewish Progressives, and Transnational Influences in American Jewish Activism,” Association of Jewish Studies Annual Conference, December 2010

“Chicago Jewish Progressives and the Early Twentieth Century Movement for African-American Education and Civil Rights,” Southwestern Historical Association Conference, April 2010

“Racial Anti-Semitism in Germany,” UH Anthropology class, March 2010

“Emil G. Hirsch, Chicago Jewish Progressives, and the Battle Against Immigration Restrictions” American Jewish Archives, Cincinnati, August 2009

“Give Me Your Tired Your Poor: Chicago Jewish Progressives Battle to Keep America’s Golden Door Open,” Greater Houston Area Phi Alpha Theta Student Colloquium, April 2009

“Recovering What Was Yours: Issues in Holocaust Asset Recovery,” University of Houston Clear Lake, October 2008

 “German-Jewish Emancipation Issues,” Greater Houston Area Phi Alpha Theta Colloquium, April 2007

“Preparing Your Company for Emergencies,” Environmental Law Institute and American Corporate Counsel Association, Washington, D.C., October 2001

“Discovery in the Electronic Era: Managing Electronic Documents”, American Corporate Counsel Association Annual Meeting, Oct. 2001

“US EPA: Guidance Memos versus Regulations,” Annual Meeting, American Corporate Counsel Association, October 2000

Ethics Panel Presentation, moderator, 10^th Annual Texas Environmental Superconference, July 1998

Pedagogy Presentations

Panelist, Using Writing for Effective Education, Annual Conference, University of Houston Center for Teaching Excellence, November 16, 2012

Publications

“Lewis Mumford,” Encyclopedia of American Environmental History

“Matthew Brady,” Encyclopedia of American Environmental History

“Photography,” Encyclopedia of American Environmental History

“Jacob Schiff,” Immigrant Entrepreneurship: German-American Business Biographies, 1720 to the Present  

Continuing Education

Managing People Program, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

PowerTalk Training, The Bergerac Company

Community Service

Past Chair, Strategic Planning, Education, Congregation Beth Yeshurun

Past Chair, Adult Education, Congregation Beth Yeshurun

Past Chair, Horvitz Scholar-in-Residence Program, Jewish Community Center, Houston

Member, Education Committee, Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center, Houston

Member, Horvitz Scholar in Residence Committee, Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center, Houston

Past Co-Chair, Schools and Scholarship Committee, Harvard Club, Houston and New Jersey