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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jewish Graduate Students Share Lived Experiences of Antisemitism During JGO's "Beyond the Headlines" Webinar

(June 24, 2026) – The Jewish Grad Organization (JGO) recently hosted Beyond the Headlines, a virtual panel featuring three Jewish graduate student leaders who shared their personal experiences navigating antisemitism, professional challenges, and community-building on campuses across North America.

The webinar highlighted the unique vulnerabilities graduate students face, particularly as faculty advisors, research supervisors, and academic departments often influence funding, publications, internships, recommendation letters, and future employment.

"More than half of Jewish graduate students report experiencing antisemitism, but statistics alone cannot capture what these students are living every day," said Alona Shaked, JGO's Director of Advocacy and moderator of the discussion. "This webinar was about putting human stories behind those numbers."

The panelists—whose identities are being kept confidential for security reasons—shared experiences ranging from being questioned by faculty about their Jewish identity, to harassment while participating in Jewish programming, to concerns about personal safety after threatening rhetoric and the doxxing of Jewish students. They also described weighing whether speaking openly about their Jewish identity or support for Israel could affect future career prospects.

One participant reflected on how profoundly the campus climate had affected her graduate school experience, saying that rather than looking forward to the future, her goal had simply become "to graduate." She shared that she has no friends within her program and that, if she could make the decision again, she might have chosen a different school—or even a different profession. 

Another described how the role of faculty members in graduate education can fundamentally change the way students navigate campus life, noting that professional development, research opportunities, and future employment often depend on relationships within a small academic community.

The discussion also highlighted the importance of community and support. Students spoke about the value of having trusted partners like JGO to help engage university administrators, provide mentorship, build Jewish community, and ensure they did not have to navigate these challenges alone.

"The conversation was ultimately about resilience," said Shaked. "Despite everything these students have experienced, they continue to lead, advocate for their communities, and create vibrant Jewish life on their campuses. That resilience deserves to be recognized and supported."

JGO will continue its Beyond the Headlines webinar series this fall, providing additional opportunities for Jewish graduate students to share their experiences and educate supporters about the unique realities of graduate student life.

About JGO...

The Jewish Grad Organization is the national movement for Jewish graduate students and alumni. Their mission is to foster Jewish community on grad school campuses and to cultivate Jewish identity and leadership among young adults at this critical life stage. Since 2011, JGO has built a network of grassroots Jewish affinity clubs at over 170 graduate campuses across North America, impacting 14,000 unique students a year through more than 948 annual programs. They have empowered a generation of young Jewish leaders and touched the lives of more than 50,000 individuals.