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William Paterson University’s Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, which provides education programs centered around the Holocaust and other genocides, celebrated its 30th anniversary on April 25 with the dedication of its new home on campus in the 1600 Valley Road building.
Situated within the University’s College of Education, the Center’s placement reflects its focus on how the lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides apply to today’s concerns. Led by an Advisory Council of faculty from many disciplines, the Center offers a wide range of programming for the University and the public, including professional development for teachers, public lectures and conferences, and cultural events. Its large collection of resources on K-12 Holocaust and genocide education, housed in the Curriculum Materials Center of the Cheng Library, includes children’s literature and curriculum materials curated to support K-12 pre- and in-service teachers’ instruction.
“For three decades, now, the Center has done important work, serving as a forum for scholarly work and exchanges and, critically, by providing local school districts with an array of educational resources for teaching about the Holocaust and genocide in all its historical and contemporary forms,” said President Richard J. Helldobler.
“We know all too well how urgently necessary this work is,” he continued. “Surveys show that young people aren’t retaining the knowledge and awareness of the facts around the Holocaust and other genocides. As educators, we know that our ability to access a commonly understood history is fundamental to a healthy society. Alongside those facts is the need to nurture our collective humanity, because denying the humanity of others is the one ingredient common to all atrocities.”
The Center was established in 1994 following passage of New Jersey state legislation mandating Holocaust education in grades K-12. “Our Center helps to fulfill this mandate by offering high-quality professional development to teachers and students in our local K-12 schools,” says Alison Dobrick, professor of teacher education and current director of the Center, who noted that it is the only state-designated “State Teaching Center” in Passaic County. “I hope it will remain a meaningful source for the University community to continue to bear witness to the Holocaust and other genocides.”
Through a collaboration with Leslie Nobler, professor of art, four William Paterson University art students—Sarah Feher, Madison Freifelder, James Koegler, and Ally Zonzini—created artwork that is displayed in the Center. The works were originally produced for Nobler’s course, Computer Painting and 2D Art, which were developed around the theme of diversity and social justice.
“I am immensely proud of these students,” said Nobler, a digital and mixed media artist. Her current work involves portraits of early 20th century marginalized people who showed resilience and even salvation through their creativity; several of her recent artists’ books are on display at the Center, and others are in the permanent collections of the Human Rights Institute of Kean University, the Georgian National Museum/Jewish Collection, the Seattle Holocaust Center for Humanity, and others.
Also on hand for the celebration was Miryam Wahrman, professor of biology, who served as founding co-director of the Center with Peter Stein, professor emeritus of sociology. She said that the Center continues to be critically important.
“The saying ‘never again’ rose from the ashes of the Holocaust,” she said, referring to Nazi atrocities and genocide of an unprecedented scale, including the persecution and systematic extermination of six million Jewish men, women, and children, and millions of other innocent victims, during World War II. “We have to be vigilant and celebrate those who teach the facts and the history so that our students can go forward with the knowledge to say, ‘never again.’”
Amy Ginsberg, dean of the College of Education, concurred. “I was told from a young age that you have to teach history so that you do not repeat it,” she said. “The value of this Center is in supporting difficult conversations with young people who will be the adults of tomorrow. The work of this Center is so important especially in these complicated times.”
