Baruch Halpern, Covenant Foundation Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies in UGA’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, has received a prestigious Fulbright Program award supporting international research and scholarly collaboration in Israel. 

The Fulbright Scholar Program, administered by the U.S. Department of State, supports faculty and researchers pursuing projects that strengthen academic exchange and cross-cultural understanding around the world. 

“Professor Halpern’s work reflects the multidisciplinary spirit that defines Franklin,” said Dean Anna Stenport. “His scholarship brings together history, archaeology, language, and material culture to deepen our understanding of ancient civilizations. The Fulbright program recognizes scholars whose work advances international collaboration and intellectual exchange, and this honor is a testament to the impact of his research.” 

Halpern is internationally recognized for scholarship on the ancient Near East, the Hebrew Bible, archaeology, and the historical reconstruction of ancient societies. His work combines textual analysis with archaeology, ethnology, and material culture to better understand how ancient people lived and organized their societies. 

“You cannot know the culture without knowing the material culture,” Halpern said. “We need to combine text with what’s in the ground.” 

Before joining Franklin College, Halpern spent 16 years at York University in Toronto and later served on the faculty at Pennsylvania State University. He earned his A.B., M.A., and Ph.D. from Harvard University, where he studied under influential scholars of ancient history and Semitic languages, including Frank Moore Cross and Thorkild Jacobsen. 

Halpern has authored and edited numerous books and scholarly volumes, including “David’s Secret Demons.” He previously served as editor of the American Schools of Oriental Research Dissertation Series and co-directed the Megiddo Expedition and Survey of the Jezreel Valley, as well as an archaeological survey in southeastern Türkiye. 

Halpern has authored and edited numerous books and scholarly volumes, including “David’s Secret Demons.” He previously served as editor of the American Schools of Oriental Research Dissertation Series and co-directed the Megiddo Expedition and Survey of the Jezreel Valley, along with an archaeological survey in southeastern Türkiye. 

At Franklin College, Halpern’s research and mentorship have contributed to the university’s strengths in religious studies, archaeology, and ancient Mediterranean scholarship. 

The Fulbright award will support his ongoing international research and collaboration on ancient civilizations, the cultural histories of the Near East, and processes of retribalization among displaced and stateless populations.