Rate My Professor Shelley Rissien

Shelley Rissien served as the Hebrew Language Coordinator and retired faculty member in the Jewish Studies Program at the University of Kansas. She began teaching Hebrew language courses in 2005 with the offering of the program's first Hebrew class and was appointed Hebrew Coordinator in 2010. Over more than 25 years of service until her retirement in May 2025, Rissien developed and led a comprehensive Hebrew curriculum, including beginning Hebrew (HEBR 110), intermediate Hebrew (HEBR 210), advanced levels, independent study (HEBR 490), and special topics courses. Her instruction expanded the Hebrew offerings within Jewish Studies and Israel Studies, providing students with foundational and advanced proficiency in the language.

Rissien profoundly shaped the lives of countless Hebrew students at KU, earning recognition as a beloved teacher whose contributions to the continuum of Hebrew language education cannot be understated. Upon her retirement, the Jewish Studies Program hosted an End of Semester Bash and retirement celebration on May 8, 2025, attended by more than fifty students, alumni, partners, and friends, honoring her remarkable career and indelible mark on the program. In perpetuation of her legacy, the Shelley M. Rissien Fund for Hebrew Studies was established in May 2025 to award support to dedicated students demonstrating academic excellence in Hebrew language study. Through these efforts, Rissien's impact endures in sustaining vital Hebrew instruction at the University of Kansas.