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Payton Heyen

Payton Heyen

I am a junior in the History department and I am pursuing a minor in Jewish Studies. To date, I have completed coursework in History, Jewish Studies, Political Science and various other fields. In addition to my regular student status, I am on the executive board of two RSOs, a James Scholar, a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and a member of the Phi Kappa Phi National Honors Society.

Throughout my time at the University of Illinois, I have developed a deep passion for the study of Jewish Culture and Society. At the University, I have taken courses on the introduction to Judaism, pre-modern Jewish history, and the Holocaust. I also frequently attend guest lectures and events hosted by the Jewish Studies department. This fall I will be delving into literary responses to the Holocaust and beginning preliminary research for my Senior Honors Thesis. My thesis will highlight the similarities and differences between American immigration policies in regards to European Jews pre-World War II and those involved in the Syrian refugee crisis of today.