Finding a Home at Purchase: Dr. Aviva Taubenfeld’s Journey in Education
By Tsisnami "Sissy" Sakvarlishvili
When Dr. Aviva Taubenfeld came to Purchase College for her job interview in 2003, one small moment convinced her that she had found the right place. While getting coffee, she overheard two professors discussing a student they had both taught. They proudly described how much the student had grown.
“I thought, 'Wow! These faculty know their students. They care, and they follow them through their years,'” Dr. Taubenfeld recalled. “This is the kind of place where I want to be.”
Twenty-three years later, Dr. Taubenfeld is the director of the School of Humanities and associate professor of English and global literatures. The values that first attracted her to Purchase—education, relationships, and care for students—remain central to her work.
Dr. Taubenfeld was the first person in her family to attend college. Her father was born in Poland. When World War II began, his family was deported, and he spent the war in Siberia. He never returned to school, but he remained an intellectual and became a passionate reader.
Her mother grew up in Pennsylvania and dreamed of becoming a doctor. However, her parents saved their money for their son's education because they could not afford to pay for her education, too. She became a medical assistant and continued taking classes. After Dr. Taubenfeld graduated from college, her mother returned to school, completed her degree and became a social worker at age 70.
“Education was always primary in my family,” Dr. Taubenfeld said. “It was seen as a blessing and a success in and of itself.”
As a first-generation student, Dr. Taubenfeld did not always understand how college worked. She even believed that declaring a major meant standing in front of a department and formally announcing her choice. She explored many subjects before realizing that literature was her passion.
“I always loved to read. I always loved to write, and I loved to write about literature,” she said.
Dr. Taubenfeld attended Columbia University and benefited intellectually from its core curriculum. However, she sometimes felt that professors knew her work without knowing her personally. That experience influenced her teaching philosophy.
“I really wanted to engage with students and help students grow,” she explained, particularly students who were eager but felt lost in an unfamiliar academic environment.
Dr. Taubenfeld joined Purchase after earning her doctorate in English. In 2013, she received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, an honor especially meaningful because teaching remains her passion.
As director, she handles everything from student emergencies and faculty concerns to classroom issues and budgets.
“Every day is its own challenge,” she said.
Her dedication to students and faculty has earned her the admiration and respect of colleagues across the college.
Dr. Megan Rossman, associate professor and chair of communication, praised her leadership and commitment to the academic community.
“Dr. Taubenfeld is an excellent director and colleague. She cares deeply about Purchase College, our students and our faculty. We are lucky to have her in the director role,” Rossman said.
Dr. Gaura Narayan, associate professor of literature, also expressed appreciation for Taubenfeld's leadership and advocacy on behalf of her colleagues.
“We are fortunate to have her lead us and to advocate for us. Thankful for everything she does,” Narayan said.
Dr. Leandro Benmergui, associate professor of history, offered a short but enthusiastic tribute that captures the affection and appreciation many colleagues feel for her:
“Viva Aviva!”
Together, these comments reflect a leader who is valued not only for her academic accomplishments but also for her kindness, dedication, and willingness to support others. Her colleagues' words echo the same sense of community that first attracted her to Purchase more than two decades ago.
For students considering academic careers, Taubenfeld recommends choosing a fully funded doctoral program. Because full-time humanities positions are limited, students should consider whether years spent reading, writing, thinking, and learning would remain valuable even without a professorship.
After more than two decades at Purchase, Taubenfeld's greatest fulfillment comes from human connection.
“What I love about being here is the relationships,” she said, “the relationships that I've built with faculty, administration, and students.”
Those relationships define her career and strengthen the caring academic community that first inspired her to make her home at Purchase.
What began with an overheard conversation between two professors in 2003 has become more than two decades of teaching, leadership, and meaningful relationships. Today, Dr. Taubenfeld helps create the same welcoming and supportive environment that once convinced her she had found the right place.
For Dr. Taubenfeld, Purchase College is more than a place to work. It is a community built on education, connection and care.
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