Ruth Behar to deliver U-M’s 100th Henry Russel Lecture
Cultural anthropologist Ruth Behar will examine how shared stories connect people across borders and differences when she delivers the 2025 Henry Russel Lecture. Behar’s lecture, “The Gift of Shared Stories,” will take place at 4-5:30 p.m. Feb. 11 in the Vandenberg Room of the Michigan League. The event is open to the public and will be livestreamed.
Behar pioneered the idea of the “vulnerable observer,” a concept that has been adopted into the ethical fieldwork of a range of disciplines, including women’s studies, medicine, education, social work, and creative writing.
In her lecture, Behar will discuss why she has decided to write personally in her work. Behar hopes attendees will gain a greater appreciation for story-listening and storytelling, the role anthropology plays in understanding identity — and why cultural traditions and heritage, passed down between generations, can help give life meaning.
The Henry Russel Lectureship is the university’s highest honor for senior faculty members and is awarded annually for exceptional achievements in research, scholarship or creative endeavors, as well as for an outstanding record of distinguished teaching, mentoring and service to U-M and the wider community. This year marks the 100th Henry Russel Lecture at U-M.