40 Years of Action
Greetings from the Cohen Center, where we are celebrating a major milestone: our 40th anniversary. In 1983, the Center began as a collection of books and resources brought together by our founder, Dr. Charles Hildebrandt, who coined the mission “to remember…and to teach.” Since that time, we have continued to expand our work and offer transformative programs for the purpose of building a better world.
We have a special slate of events and offerings during the 2023-2024 academic year that have been designed to lift up the Center’s importance and impact in its 40th year. We invite you to join us for our three major events this year – the Holocaust Memorial Lecture featuring Dara Horn, our Kristallnacht series featuring Sue Hampel, and the Genocide Awareness Lecture featuring Loung Ung. These events are all free and open to the public, but tickets are limited and must be reserved in advance. Please see our online calendar (below) or register to receive our monthly e-newsletter to learn more.
For those of you who are interested in making a financial gift to support the Center’s work and mission, we encourage you to consider becoming a sponsor for our 40th anniversary. You can learn more about sponsorship opportunities and benefits by visiting our sponsorship giving page. Thank you for your support and belief in the importance of our work.


2023 Holocaust Memorial Lecture featuring Dara Horn
The Cohen Center will be featuring award-winning author and podcaster Dara Horn for our Holocaust Memorial Lecture on Tuesday, October 3, 2023 at 5:30pm. Her lecture is titled “In the Haunted Present: Jews in a Non-Jewish World” and it will be delivered both in person and via livestream. Additional information about the lecture is available in the event’s calendar listing.
Reserve your ticket today! Our ticketing system opened on September 5 and free tickets are available on a first come first served basis. We expect strong turnout for this event and seating is limited; we will not be able to admit anyone on the day of the event who has not pre-registered. Registration will close by September 26 (or sooner if tickets sell out). Sign up to attend the in-person lecture or register to watch via livestream by visiting this page.
To Remember…and to Teach
The Cohen Center serves as a research and resource center for the teaching of the Holocaust and genocide through Keene State College’s academic programs. The center also provides materials for educators at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels.
Looking for classroom presentations or lesson plans? The center provides educator support through lesson plans, workshops, summer institutes, and more. Browse our educator pages for a full array of resources.
In addition to academic programs, the center's on-campus student support includes trips to the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, an honor society, and a Holocaust and Genocide Awareness Club.
The best way to stay informed about the Center's offerings and news is to sign up for our monthly e-newsletter. You can also explore, and subscribe to, our YouTube channel.
Meeting and studying with others interested and invested in this work is more than a way to get support as an educator, but an opportunity to affirm life and hope in a confused and wounded world. Thank you!”
–Cohen Center Fellow

Public Events
Collections and Videos
The Cohen Center is home to one-of-a-kind artifacts, personal histories, and media resources. These resources are available for review and study by Keene State Students and the general public.
Collections & VideosAwards and Recognition
The Cohen Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies recognizes contributions to its mission through two named awards.
Awards and RecognitionAbout the Cohen Center
The Cohen Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies advances the public liberal arts mission of Keene State College through Holocaust and genocide education, inspiring students and other citizens to take responsibility for promoting human dignity and civic responsibility while confronting the escalating violence that leads to atrocity and genocide.
About the Cohen Center
For scholar and professor Dr. Elisa von Joeden-Forgey, “positioning students to become human rights leaders,” is among the noblest of pursuits. She may be biased, but as endowed chair of...

A question-and-answer conversation with author and former NY Times and CNN journalist Brian Stelter is the next program in the...

Sofia Thornblad ’17 is set to embark on a new journey, one far from home but one that offers such personal and professional resonance she can see it only for...