Advisory board members bring expertise and experience to the Institute by providing institutional history, outside professional perspective, broader academic context, and student and alumni perspectives. The role of the board is to advise the director and support staff of the Institute on issues related to visioning, programming, instructional activities, promotion, and fundraising. 

Advisory Board Members

Chair of the Board
(Director of the Institute)

William “Chip” Gruen, Ph.D.
Professor of Religion Studies

Provost of the College

Laura Lowe Furge, Ph.D.

Chaplain of the College

Rev. Janelle Neubauer
College Chaplain

Ira Blum
Director, Leffell Center for Jewish Student Life

Local Community Members

Jasmeet Bansal

Michael Prokup
Attorney At Law
Law Office of Michael Prokup

Pam Weiss

Muhlenberg College Faculty

Jessica Cooperman, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Chair of Religion Studies
Director, Jewish Studies

Muhlenberg College Alumni

Kelly Owens Pisano ‘09
Relationship Manager, Global Wealth & Investment Management, and Banking
Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Outside Members

Khurram Hussain, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Religion Studies
Lehigh University

Hartley Lachter, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Chair of Religion Studies
Director, Berman Center for Jewish Studies
Lehigh University

Student Representative

Currently Vacant

Contact Us

We look forward to hearing from you!
Address Muhlenberg College Institute for Religious and Cultural Understanding Moyer Hall, 202 2400 Chew Street Allentown, PA 18104