The Justice

Media Credit: Photo courtesy of the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism Elaine and Gerald Schuster are founding donors of the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism.

Elaine Schuster, a founding donor of the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism and a board member of the Women's Studies Research Center, has been appointed as the United States representative to the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly, according to an e-mail to the Justice from the Schuster Institute.

A Sept. 22 White House press release states that Schuster, a philanthropist and health care and education advocate, has been a member of the President's Advisory Committee on the Arts for eight years. She has also served as the New England chair of the Democratic Women's Leadership Forum and was honored by the Massachusetts State Democratic Party for her work in support of Democratic values.

Additionally, Schuster has been recognized by Franciscan Children's Hospital for her help in fundraising and increasing the hospital's visibility, according to the press release. She has also received the Heritage Society Award from the Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Schuster could not be reached for comment by press time because she was traveling by air.

"I think in that nominating Elaine Schuster, [President Barack Obama] has made an outstanding choice because she, in addition to all her other qualities, is [a] smart and knowledgeable woman about world affairs and is going to represent the United States in a very caring and intelligent way," said University President Jehuda Reinharz in an interview with the Justice.

"[Schuster] told me that at the United Nations, she is particularly interested in learning more about the enormous problem of modern-day slavery worldwide, and about the sex trafficking of girls and women worldwide," Florence Graves, the founding director of the Schuster Institute, wrote in an e-mail to the Justice.

Elaine and Gerald Schuster made a gift of $5 million to Brandeis' previously named Institute for Investigative Journalism in 2007. The Institute was renamed to include the Schusters after the gift was received.

Graves also wrote that Schuster's concerns about human rights and social justice align with those of the institute she founded, which is currently working on a project devoted to reporting on slavery issues.

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