WIRE Student Fellow Gabi Fischthal (’26 Writing for Film and Television major, History minor) presenting their WIRE research at the Wilkinson College Faculty Retreat. Photo by Violet Gude (’29 Broadcast Journalism major).

This edition of From Our Eyes features Gabi Fischthal (‘26 Writing for Film and Television; History minor), one of the 10 student fellows who participated in the 2026 Wilkinson Interterm Research Experience (WIRE). This intensive program prepares students to excel by building both research skills and practical experience. Fischthal traced the ADL’s history from its founding through the early 21st century, exploring its efforts against antisemitism, collaboration with the U.S. government, and support for Zionism.

Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in the Wilkinson Interterm Research Experience (WIRE) program, where I researched the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), an American organization committed to combating antisemitism. Under the guidance of my faculty mentor, Dr. Shira Klein (History), I tracked the historical trajectory of the ADL from their founding to the early twenty-first century– from the first World War, through the McCarthyist era, and the fallout from the World Trade Center attacks. Through my research, I found three central themes: the ADL’s work fighting antisemitism, the organization’s collaboration and alliance with the American government, and support for Zionism and the colonization of Palestine.

While I knew the WIRE program would go by fast and have work-filled days, it went by quicker than I ever imagined. I found myself going beyond thirty hours a week because of the vast amount of data I collected online. I went through hundreds of newspapers and ADL reports, documenting the ADL’s decades of activity and its rise to prominence in American society and politics.

WIRE gave me a special experience by hosting curated workshops for its fellows, including conducting research in a variety of online databases, applying to graduate school, and learning how to get our work published. Through these workshops, I was shown that my research could take me to places I’d never imagined, such as conferences and curated research programs. I was surprised by the enjoyment the research process brought me, and after WIRE, I’m excited about the career my research can direct me towards.

Beyond the program, I am exploring options to publish my research as a paper in undergraduate and relevant publications. I’m grateful for the avenues my research project has opened for me and for where it can take me in the future, and this would not have happened without the wonderful faculty and administrators of Wilkinson College!

(Pictured in header: (right) WIRE Student Fellow Gabi Fischthal (’26 Writing for Film and Television major, History minor) with their WIRE Mentor Dr. Shira Klein (History). Photo by Violet Gude (’29 Broadcast Journalism major).)