Hotchkiss welcomed Dr. Rachel Fish as this year’s Preston Lecturer on Dec. 2. She engaged students, faculty, and staff in a powerful conversation on “the impact of antisemitism in America in the 21st century.”

Dr. Fish is a leading scholar and educator who co-founded Boundless, a nonprofit dedicated to revitalizing Israel education and combating antisemitism. She also serves as a special advisor for The Brandeis University President’s Initiative on Antisemitism, is an associate research professor at the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies, and teaches Israeli history and society at George Washington University.

Previously, Dr. Fish was the executive director of the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism. Rachel also served as senior advisor and resident scholar at the Paul E. Singer Foundation in New York City and executive director of the Schusterman Center for Israel Studies, where she trained the next generation of academics in the field of Israel studies.

The Edward B. Preston ’79 History Speakers Fund was established in 1986 by Ted Preston's family following his death. In 1991, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Preston Jr. P’75,’79 and their son and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Preston III ’75, added additional funds. This endowed fund has been used to bring practicing historians to campus to give lectures and participate in classroom discussions.