Educating about genocide and mass atrocities
The history of genocide, mass atrocities, crimes against humanity and their continuing consequences stand at the core of the Strassler Center at Clark University. Home to a uniquely rich undergraduate program and a landmark doctoral program, the Strassler Center is the first and only institute of its kind.
Since 1998, it has gained international standing as the foremost PhD program training students in Holocaust History, the Armenian Genocide, and other genocides perpetrated around the globe.
Center faculty and students foster important scholarship and germinate significant ideas as conveners of a robust series of international symposia, workshops, and conferences that broaden the boundaries of genocide studies by introducing less known cases and novel approaches. The causes, conduct, and consequences of genocide are complex and require multifaceted approaches. The Strassler Center is committed to pushing boundaries in order to foster greater knowledge as well as to train professionals who hope to find solutions, offer healing and aid, education, and opportunities for memorialization.
Our faculty and expertise
Thomas Kühne, Ph.D.
Strassler Colin Flug Chair in the Study of Holocaust History; Professor, Department of History
Elyse Semerdjian, Ph.D.
Robert Aram and Marianne Kaloosdian and Stephen and Marian Mugar Chair of Armenian Genocide Studies; Professor, Department of History
Ken MacLean, Ph.D.
Professor, Sustainability and Social Justice; and Director, Genocide and Human Rights Concentration
Frances Tanzer, Ph.D.
Rose Professor of Holocaust Studies and Modern Jewish History and Culture; Associate Professor, Department of History
Ashley Valanzola, Ph.D.
David P. Angel Chair in Holocaust Pedagogy and Antisemitism Studies; Assistant Professor, Department of History
What our current students and alumni are saying…
Land acknowledgement
We acknowledge the long history of Nipmuc peoples and their bonds of kinship on the land where the Strassler Center community teaches, learns, and researches about genocide and mass violence.
Strassler Center in focus
News
Featured event
Check back for more information coming for Fall 2026.
