This story is included in the most recent issue of Quest Magazine, the College's twice-yearly Alumni publication. To view the entire issue online, or to view longer-form "Quest Extra" pieces, click here.
Nick Underwood, a native of southern Florida, grew up in a very large Jewish community. Even though he wasn’t Jewish himself, he felt like a part of the fabric of the area.
“When I turned 14, my friends all approached my parents, saying ‘Nick has gone to all of our mitzvahs over the last two or three years, we want to throw him a party because he didn’t get one,” Underwood laughed. “My mom would say my friends threw me a bar mitzvah.”
That could explain why Underwood became a scholar (and published author) of Judaic culture and history.
“It was just part of the landscape,” he said. “I never really thought of the unconscious takeaways.”
It hasn’t traditionally been part of the landscape in the west. The College of Idaho features the Berger/Neilsen Chair of Judaic Studies, the only endowed chair of Judaic Studies in the Intermountain West, thanks to the generous support of the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation.
“The approach here is very broad in terms of Judaic Studies,” Underwood explained. “I was trained very broadly to be able to teach broadly. It’s very, very open in the types of courses I can offer.”
One semester, it may be European Judaic history. Then maybe an exploration of the relationship between Israel and Palestine. Or maybe Jews in Islamic empires, such as the Ottoman Empire. Or, of course, World War II and Nazi Germany. Underwood’s Nazi Germany course is an extension of a class originally taught at the College by Dr. Howard Berger, whose name is on the chair of the program.
Underwood arrived in the Fall of 2020 – the COVID year, as it is commonly referred to on campus – at the same time as Rachel Miller and Stelios Panageotou of the political economy department. The three have leaned on each other a bit over the past three years: Underwood praising Miller’s course and curriculum development and Panageoutou’s uncommon ability to get students to discuss new or challenging concepts.
It’s the new and the old for the history department in Strahorn Hall as Underwood and Miller have stood with longtime College pillars like Mee-Ae Kim, Mark Smith, Steven Maughan, and Jeff Snyder-Reinke.
“The history department is very interested in moving wherever faculty take them,” Underwood said. “They have been very open to suggestions in terms of curriculum and course ideas. Very supportive. They’re always there to share their expertise and institutional memory to help guide us.”
While Underwood has taken a lot from his work colleagues – whether it’s Smith’s approach to study-abroad courses or Maughan’s continued excellence in the classroom – he hopes that he and his family (wife Annabel and two children) remain a part of the fabric of this community.
When asked if he envisions a future at the College like that of his colleagues, he said, “I hope that is me.”
The College of Idaho has a 132-year-old legacy of excellence. The College is known for its outstanding academic programs, winning athletics tradition, and history of producing successful graduates, including eight Rhodes Scholars, three governors, and countless business leaders and innovators. Its distinctive PEAK Curriculum challenges students to attain competency in the four knowledge peaks of humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and a professional field—empowering them to earn a major and three minors in four years. The College’s close-knit, residential campus is located in Caldwell, where its proximity both to Boise and to the world-class outdoor activities of southwest Idaho’s mountains and rivers offers unique opportunities for learning beyond the classroom. For more information, visit www.collegeofidaho.edu.