“Syrian Heritage Initiative a Natural Fit for ASOR,” Featuring Dr. Susan Ackerman

Last year ASOR had two firsts – our first female president, and a $600,000 cooperative agreement with the Department of State. At the 2014 ASOR Annual Meeting, I sat down with ASOR President Dr. Susan Ackerman to discuss ASOR’s work with the Department of State. The cooperative agreement, known as the Syrian Heritage Initiative, aims to protect and preserve the cultural heritage of Syria and Northern Iraq. Our discussion covers the importance of cultural heritage, how you can help with the initiative, and what is needed to keep this project going. Take a listen and stay tuned for future podcasts when we talk with directors of the initiative on their roles in the project.

Susan Ackerman is the Preston H. Kelsey Professor of Religion and Professor of Women’s and Gender Studies at Dartmouth College. Her publications include several articles and three books, Under Every Green Tree: Popular Religion in Sixth-Century Judah (Scholars Press, 1992); Warrior, Dancer, Seductress, Queen: Women in Judges and Biblical Israel (Doubleday, 1998); and When Heroes Love: The Ambiguity of Eros in the Stories of Gilgamesh and David (Columbia University Press, 2005).  She has recently completed a draft of a new book, on women and the religion of ancient Israel. She has been a member of the ASOR Board of Trustees since 2007, served on the Board’s Finance and Audit Committee and its Strategic Planning Task Force, served on the Board as a member of the Capital Campaign Cabinet and the Board Chair Search Committee. Other current service to ASOR includes serving as a member of the Committee on Publications and on the editorial board of Near Eastern Archaeology. Susan currently serves as the ASOR President, and is dedicated to finding a means for anyone interested in the cultures and history of the Near East to discover and do more.

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