Weston Gift Helps Ensure Ongoing Academic Excellence at PSGS

Harris K. Weston (1918-2009) was a successful lawyer, philanthropist, and community leader in Cincinnati, Ohio. He lived his life true to his philosophy that each person has a responsibility to leave the world a better place than they found it. His wife, Alice F. Weston (1926-2019), was a patron of the arts and an acclaimed photographer.

Many years before his death, Harris met with Dr. Alfred Gottschalk, then president of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, to discuss the importance of non-sectarian interreligious graduate education in Judaic Studies at the College-Institute.

The Graduate School (now the Pines School of Graduate Studies) was founded in 1947 as a school of higher learning for students of all faiths. The Graduate School has conferred more than 500 PhD, DHL, and MAJS degrees over seven decades, and its long history of excellence in training scholars proudly continues today.

The mission and vision of the PSGS was so compelling that Harris and Alice agreed to provide a very generous gift from Harris' estate to create a substantial legacy that would be used to provide tuition support for non-Jewish PhD students in perpetuity. During Harris and Alice's lifetime, they made annual gifts to HUC-JIR, also directed to the PSGS, so that the critically needed tuition support for future scholars could begin immediately. Since 1995, these graduate students have been known as the Harris and Alice Weston Fellows. As a result of the meaningful endowment gift the Westons created, this group of students will grow each year.

Harris and Alice Weston had the vision to support greater interreligious understanding through side-by-side academic study of Judaism at the highest level at the College-Institute. Through their thoughtful planning and generosity, HUC-JIR, and the PSGS in particular, will forever feel the impact of their values. PSGS is honored to be a part of their legacies.

For information on the many ways you can help ensure academic excellence in the Pines School of Graduate Studies for students of all faiths, contact us.