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Keene State College Adds Two New Departments to Expand Support for Students of Existing Programs

College Creates Departments of Holocaust and Genocide Studies and Journalism

Keene, NH, May 14, 2012: Keene State College today announces that effective July 1, 2012, the college will establish two new academic departments: the Department of Holocaust and Genocide Studies and the Department of Journalism.

The Department of Holocaust and Genocide Studies builds on the growing program that already exists at Keene State, which offers the nation’s only baccalaureate degree in this field. Dr. Paul Vincent will chair the department. Additional faculty includes Dr. James Waller - endowed chair of the program, Dr. Henry Knight and Dr. Nona Fienberg. Combined expertise in the department spans several decades: Dr. Vincent has taught modern German history since the early 1980s, Dr. Knight has been engaged in Holocaust education since the mid-1970s, Dr. Waller has been educating students on genocide since the early 1990s and Dr. Fienberg has taught courses focused on literature and the Holocaust since the late 1990s. This collective experience and knowledge offers Keene State students a rich and unique learning experience.

“I am very pleased to announce our new department. This move demonstrates the college’s commitment to educating students on the issues of genocide and the Holocaust, which continue to shape and challenge our world today,” said Paul Vincent, Keene State College Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies. “Students have chosen to attend Keene State specifically to take part in this program. Forming the department will help to grow our program and guarantee the support we can offer students for many years to come.”

Keene State College’s new Department of Journalism has been serving journalism majors since the 1980s and Journalism courses have been offered since the 1950s. As New Hampshire’s only Journalism degree program in the state’s public education system, the department was previously housed with the Department of Communication and Philosophy.

The new department will be chaired by Dr. Rose Kundanis. Additional faculty includes Julio DelSesto, Dr. Chad Nye, Dr. Marianne Salcetti and Dr. Mark Timney. The combined faculty brings more than 75 years of experience in the fields of newspaper and broadcast news reporting editing, and anchoring, photojournalism and multimedia journalism.

“We are so excited to expand our program that consistently produces national, state and regionally award-winning student journalism,” said upcoming Journalism Chair, Dr. Rose Kundanis. “Helping Journalism students achieve success is our top priority. The creation of a separate Journalism Department is a critical step in offering students the broadest and most relevant academic curriculum so our students can keep pace and graduate with a high employability factor.”

Kundanis noted that for 30 years, Keene State College Journalism graduates have worked throughout the New England region in news, public relations and marketing. “Each of us relies on media in some form, each day in our lives. The driving force behind this is the craft of journalism,” Kundanis said. “With this new department, the students we teach at Keene State will be even more prepared to enter the workplace and provide quality work in the future.”

About Keene State College

Keene State College is a preeminent public liberal arts college that ensures student access to world-class academic programs. Integrating academics with real-world application and active community and civic engagement, Keene State College prepares graduates to meet society’s challenges by thinking critically, acting creatively, and serving the greater good. To learn more about Keene State College, visit www.keene.edu.

Keene State College: Wisdom to make a difference.

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Contact Keene State College

1-800-KSC-1909
229 Main Street
Keene, New Hampshire 03435