The Ackerman Center Podcast

In this insightful 13 minute conversation, Dr. Mehak Burza sits down with Mr. Ron Schwarz, the author of "Quiet Strength of Resilience" who briefly discusses the book, sharing the inspiration behind it and the powerful story of his father's journey. He works in the information services area and owns two companies: one that publishes directories for the legal sector and another that publishes different databases for the pharmaceutical industry. He serves on an advisory board to the Dean of the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin and on the advisory council to the Director of the Ackerman Center for Holocaust Studies at the University of Texas at Dallas.

In this special episode, Dr. Shilyh Warren, Associate Professor of Film Studies and Associate Dean of Graduate Studies in the Bass School at UTD, speaks with Professor Emerita, Dr. Irene Kacandes, The Dartmouth Professor of German and Comparative Literature at Dartmouth College until 2024, about her research trajectory and her commitment to extending the lessons and ambitions of the humanities to crucial controversies we face in and beyond the academy. Dr. Kacandes discusses her initiative, Humanities for Humans, a collaborative project with the Walter de Gruyter Foundation, which aims to engage humanities scholars in public conversations about today’s complex human challenges, from climate collapse and migration to violence and human rights. Throughout the conversation, she emphasizes the unique power that humanities methods and approaches have to encourage deep reflection, collaborative thinking, and the imagination required to conceptualize the world otherwise. Her discussion reflects on key historical crises, including the Holocaust, that continue to shape our understanding of ethics, memory, and the consequences of division and isolation. Dr. Irene Kacandes was the keynote speaker for the Dean's Lecture Series held in October 2024. This podcast was recorded in conjunction with her visit to UT Dallas.

Join us for a compelling journey through the ruins of the Nazi reign of terror. In this walking tour episode Dr. Roemer leads Dr. Katie Fisher through the memorial site at Auschwitz and then the Topography of Terror memorial site in Berlin. Beginning in Auschwitz, they confront the horrors of the Holocaust, standing where so many suffered and perished and then in Berlin, they trace this terror back to its epicenter of control—the Topography of Terror—where the Nazi regime orchestrated its atrocities. This episode offers a deep, thought-provoking conversation that brings history to life. These sites, both haunting remnants of the past, serve as powerful reminders of the consequences of unchecked hatred and authoritarianism. Adding to this immersive experience, the UTD choir provides a moving musical tribute, amplifying the emotional weight of these historic locations. Walk with us as we explore the echoes of the past and reflect on the lessons they hold for the future.

In this episode Dr. Nils Roemer hosts an engaging conversation with Mr. Marc Masurovsky. Mr. Masurovsky is the the co-founder of the Holocaust Art Restitution Project (HARP) in September 1997 and served as its Director of Research. He explores the challenges of ownership, the role of museums, and how institutions should handle disputed artworks.

We are honored to have Dr. Stacy Gallin, a renowned expert in ethics, law, and human rights, as our guest. Dr. Gallin is the Director of the Center to Combat Antisemitism and Reinforce Multicultural Acceptance, or CARMA, which was launched in October 2024. The center’s mission is to combat antisemitism and other forms of identity-based hate through education, advocacy, and moral leadership.   In this episode, Dr. Gallin and Dr. Nils Roemer will be discussing the pivotal role of physicians during the Holocaust, exploring how medical professionals were implicated in the atrocities and examining the broader moral questions raised by this dark chapter in history. She brings an extraordinary depth of knowledge and perspective to this topic, and we’re excited to hear her insights.   In addition to her leadership at CARMA, Dr. Gallin is a regular contributor to the Globe Post, Times of Israel, and Forbes Media, where she shares her insights on pressing issues like ethics, law, public policy, and human rights, often exploring them through the lens of the Holocaust. She is also the co-editor of the book Bioethics and the Holocaust, a comprehensive study on how the Holocaust continues to shape the ethics of health, medicine, and human rights today.