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Virág Gulyás, an international relations and branding expert, recently visited the University of New Haven to help launch a new speaker series about combating instances of antisemitism and promoting human rights.

October 14, 2019

By Renee Chmiel, Office of Marketing and Communications

Vu Nguyen �Ӱ�ԭ��20 wants to learn about different ways of looking at the world. That�Ӱ�ԭ��s why he decided to attend a program on campus sponsored by the University�Ӱ�ԭ��s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Council that featured a lecture by Virág Gulyás titled "Antisemite to Zionist."

"It�Ӱ�ԭ��s important for young adults to learn about different viewpoints," said Nguyen, a marketing major. "The idea that I can�Ӱ�ԭ��t possibly understand something because I am not part of a certain group �Ӱ�ԭ�� whether it is a race or a gender �Ӱ�ԭ�� is not true. If you take the time to understand, it is possible to understand. I�Ӱ�ԭ��m glad Ms. Gulyás discussed that."

An international relations and branding expert, Gulyás, a native of Hungary, admits she grew up in an insular anti-Semitic environment. Although she is not Jewish, she has become a pro-Israel voice and a Zionist, a prominent voice for Jewish people in America. Her blog, is well known in the United States and in Israel.

A former European Union diplomat, she recently completed a master�Ӱ�ԭ��s degree in Jewish studies, her second advanced degree. She has been working for years on several high-profile educational and public relations campaigns that aim to correct the false narratives around Israel.

"It�Ӱ�ԭ��s important for young adults to learn about different viewpoints."Vu Nguyen �Ӱ�ԭ��20

Gulyás told the University community her story, encouraging her audience to learn from history and to change the future.

"It�Ӱ�ԭ��s really hard to stand up for each other," she said. "We don�Ӱ�ԭ��t even stand up for ourselves. It�Ӱ�ԭ��s hard to stand up for a Jewish person because you face antisemitism without being a Jew."

Gulyás was the first of four speakers to visit the University as part of a series organized by the University�Ӱ�ԭ��s IDEA Council. In response to the growing number of incidents of antisemitism across the country, the IDEA Council created a working committee centered around fighting antisemitism that is focusing on exploring new approaches to help combat these incidents �Ӱ�ԭ�� especially on college campuses.

The University�Ӱ�ԭ��s yearlong speaker series will focus on combating antisemitism and promoting human rights.

"It�Ӱ�ԭ��s a polarizing topic, and this is a good opportunity to get to hear another side," said Ken Fabian �Ӱ�ԭ��20, a communication major. "Diversity of thought is important, and events like this are good opportunities for students to learn about different points of view and from people�Ӱ�ԭ��s firsthand experiences."

Added Anna Downs �Ӱ�ԭ��20, a communication major, "It�Ӱ�ԭ��s a topic you hear about in the media a lot, and I was interested in hearing about her experience."

Anyone interested in finding out about future speakers in the series should email Prof. Martin A. Goldberg at mgoldberg@newhaven.edu.