Cohen Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies

To Remember…and to Teach

The Cohen Institute (formerly the Cohen Center) at Keene State College cultivates research, events, and resources to advance understanding of the Holocaust and genocide on campus and in the broader community. The Institute has its origins in 1983, when Prof. Charles Hildebrandt established one of the nation's first Holocaust resource centers. The scope and nature of our work has continued to evolve and expand since that time and, in 2024, a landmark gift from Rick and Jan Cohen allowed what was then the Cohen Center to expand into a much broader and more sustainable Institute.

Over the next few years, the Cohen Institute will scale up to full operations, which will include a research division to generate new scholarship that will advance the field of Holocaust and Genocide Studies. The Institute will also work to equip current and future leaders--including students--with knowledge about the genocidal process and how to combat the root causes of mass violence. By activating and engaging a network of experts (locally and across the globe), the Institute will provide a crucial space for fostering analysis of past and present genocides, innovative teaching, and high-impact events and programs.

Core to the Institute's work has been its longstanding commitment to educational outreach. Through professional development workshops, a biannual Summer Institute for Educators, and the development of open-access resources and curriculum, the Institute works to support teachers at the elementary, middle, and high school levels and beyond.

The new Cohen Institute retains core events and programs that have been crucial to our mission for decades, such as the annual Holocaust Memorial Lecture in the fall semester and the Genocide Awareness Lecture in the spring. Our team also continues a longstanding partnership with the College Archives to develop and utilize the Special Collection in Holocaust and Genocide Studies.

The Institute offers internship opportunities for students, graduate fellowships, and additional student-centered offerings such as trips to museums and other sites for experiential learning. Although the Institute is separate from the Department of Holocaust and Genocide Studies (the academic program), we partner closely with faculty and students in HGS and across campus to create and implement high-impact offerings.

The best way to stay informed about the Institute's offerings and news is to sign up for our monthly e-newsletter. Our e-newsletter comes out once a month, usually on the first business day. If you are signed up but not receiving our mailings, please check your spam or junk folder. You can also explore, and subscribe to, our YouTube channel.

Please note that the Cohen Institute website is currently being updated. You may notice some outdated language and shifting content over the next few months. Please reach out to our team if you have any questions!