Stan Greenspon Holocaust Education Center and
Gratz College Announce Strategic Academic Partnership

(Sept. 2, 2026) CHARLOTTE, NC & BALA CYNWYD, PA — The Stan Greenspon Holocaust Education Center (SGC) and Gratz College have formally established a strategic academic partnership to advance Holocaust education and counter antisemitism in secondary classrooms. Under this arrangement, Gratz College will serve as the academic home for the SGC’s premier certification program, Certification in Holocaust Pedagogy (CHP). 

This decision emerged from the collaboration, research, and professional learning that SGC Executive Director Judy La Pietra and Director of Education Katie Cunningham have engaged in through their doctoral studies in Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Gratz College.

“We are honored to partner with Gratz College,” said Cunningham. “Gratz brings extensive resources and experience in Holocaust and antisemitism education that will make our programs even stronger and provide meaningful academic connections to our participants. We are so pleased to have access to the college’s resources, which include leading scholars in Holocaust and antisemitism.”

The CHP program provides intensive training on effective, evidence-based methods for teaching the Holocaust in secondary schools.

• Program Structure: Over ten months, participants engage in rigorous historical and pedagogical study, completing final projects that demonstrate classroom implementation of the strategies learned.
• Experiential Learning: The program culminates in a transformative travel learning experience in Poland.
• Proven Impact: Since launching in 2022, the program has graduated nearly 80 educators across North Carolina, collectively impacting the education of more than 500,000 students through their diverse educational roles. CHP alumni remain active through advanced learning opportunities and community gatherings, continuing to lead Holocaust education efforts statewide.
• Eligibility: Open to participants who currently teach about the Holocaust or directly support educators teaching Holocaust curricula in secondary schools. While this program has historically been limited to North Carolina educators, future cohorts will be open to educators from across the country.

Key Highlights of the Partnership:

• Academic Home & CEUs: Gratz College will serve as the CHP’s academic partner, while ensuring alignment with academic and assessment standards. The SGC will continue to confer CEUs for all participants.
• Faculty Leadership: Dr. Ayal Feinberg, Director of the Center for Holocaust Studies and Human Rights at Gratz College, will act as the primary academic liaison.
• Future Synergies: The institutions will explore educator pipelines into Gratz’s graduate programs, collaborative research and conferences, and professional development tied to the emerging Holocaust Museum of the Carolinas.
• Operations: The Greenspon Center retains responsibility for program delivery, curriculum development, travel logistics, funding, and recruitment.
  
  

Future Plans 

The SGC is developing an additional certification program, the Advanced Holocaust Educator Certification in Israel and Antisemitism Education (AHEC), which will take training for educators to the next level, including a travel learning experience in Israel. Gratz College will serve as the official academic home for the new program once established.

The SGC is also embarking on the creation of The Holocaust Museum of the Carolinas, which is currently in the planning and development phase. The SGC has established the vision, mission, and educational framework for the museum and is working with partners, advisors, and community stakeholders to shape the project’s scope and impact.

The first cohort of the Certification in Holocaust Pedagogy program to benefit from this partnership launches on September 19, 2026, with 30 educators from across the Carolinas.

About the Organizations

• The Stan Greenspon Holocaust Education Center is a nonprofit organization based in Charlotte, North Carolina, dedicated to advancing education on the Holocaust, antisemitism, and Jewish identity. Through education, the Stan Greenspon Center honors the history and stories of the Holocaust, deepens understanding of Jewish history and culture, and empowers individuals to confront antisemitism and hate in all forms.
• Gratz College, a private non-profit institution based in the Philadelphia area, is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Founded in 1895, Gratz College is the oldest independent college for Jewish studies in North America. Today, Gratz enrolls a diverse population of students from around the world with many programs that reflect its historic focus on Jewish studies and education. An early adopter of online education, Gratz offers blended and fully online degrees in a broad range of studies, including the world’s only Doctorate in Antisemitism Studies, the world’s only online Doctorate in Holocaust and Genocide Studies, a Doctorate in Education Leadership, and a Doctorate in Jewish Studies. Gratz also offers ten master’s degree programs, including a Master’s in Education, a Master’s in Antisemitism Studies, and a Master’s in Nonprofit Management; various graduate certificates; and a robust continuing education program.