Dr. Robert Wexler
   President of the University

Welcome statements on a university website tend to be fairly standard stuff. You probably expect me to begin by boasting about the excellence of our university, our faculty, our students and our programs. Well, I will get to all of that in a moment. But if you want to understand the unique nature of American Jewish University, let me first tell you something about our principles, our goals and the atmosphere we have created here.

We are proud of being exactly what our name says, an American Jewish university. That means we represent the richness of Jewish culture and the Jewish ethical tradition as they exist and flourish in the United States. We are here to serve the American Jewish community even as we also welcome many students of diverse ethnic backgrounds.

What are our primary goals?

• To prepare educated and inspired leaders and engaged citizens for both the Jewish community and American society at large.

• To provide Jewish educational and cultural experiences for Jews (and non-Jews) of all ages

Students who attend American Jewish University recognize that the atmosphere on our campus is different from that found in many other institutions. We emphasize the importance of being part of a caring and participatory community. Simply put, we relate to our students with a combination of respect and personal warmth. This is a place where lifelong friendships are formed between students and where close relationships between students and members of the faculty are the norm, not the exception.

Now let me say a bit about our faculty. We are most fortunate to have a core group of outstanding professors. They are all committed teachers, innovative thinkers, active researchers and prolific writers. We have the lowest student-to-faculty ratio of any college in the country, and our professors inspire their students both in and outside the classroom, working closely to help them realize their academic and professional goals.

I already mentioned that AJU has a caring and participatory community. Let me explain a bit more about what I mean. Students, faculty, administrators and staff have established a cohesive network at American Jewish University. Opportunities for sharing ideas and developing them are always available—over a cup of coffee in the lounges of our student union, on the basketball court, in our university gardens, and in our residence halls. Attending American Jewish University, as an undergraduate, a graduate student or an adult learner, means being part of an intellectually stimulating environment where the exchange of ideas is enthusiastic, challenging and often very passionate.

Our notion of community transcends our Bel Air and Simi Valley campuses. Our graduate students in Education, Rabbinics, Nonprofit Business Management and Jewish Communal Studies are making a difference in the community through their internships at leading day and religious schools, and at nonprofit organizations in the Jewish and general communities. Our Service Learning Program introduces undergraduates to the importance of volunteerism in the Jewish and broader communities, as well. Whether it is helping at local hospitals, serving as mentors to underprivileged youth, or teaching children how to read, these students are reaching beyond our campus and learning the benefits and of giving to others.

So please take some time, explore our website and learn about the wide range of programs at AJU. Hopefully, you will find something right for you, and we will have the pleasure of welcoming you into the community that is American Jewish University.