Talli Dippold Appointed Executive Director of Holocaust Education Center

News Summary

Talli Dippold has been named the new executive director of the Hilton Family Holocaust Education Center in Phoenix, beginning June 1. With a strong background in Holocaust education and a personal connection to the topic, Dippold aims to engage the community through innovative outreach and technology. The Center, which breaks ground on June 5, will offer educational programs and resources to promote understanding and empathy about the Holocaust.

Phoenix – Talli Dippold has been appointed as the new executive director of the Hilton Family Holocaust Education Center, set to officially begin her role on June 1. This appointment is seen as a pivotal moment for the Center, which aims to educate the community about the Holocaust and foster a culture of understanding and empathy.

The groundbreaking for the Hilton Family Holocaust Education Center is scheduled for June 5 at the Arizona Jewish Historical Society located in downtown Phoenix. Dippold, a descendant of Holocaust survivors, brings her extensive experience and passion for Holocaust education to the role. She previously held the position of CEO at The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida, where she led various initiatives aimed at educating the public about Holocaust history.

Dippold has conducted thorough research and engaged with local community members to take a comprehensive approach to the Center’s mission prior to her official start date. She emphasizes that the Center is designed “with community and for community,” which distinguishes it from other Holocaust museums across the nation. The Center plans to make use of state-of-the-art technology to engage visitors in a dynamic learning environment while sharing powerful stories from the past.

In Arizona, public schools are legally required to teach Holocaust education at least twice between the seventh and twelfth grades. The new Center will support this mandate by offering guided tours, online and interactive exhibits, and an extensive digital resource library tailored for educational use. A standout feature of the Center will be a high-tech gallery that will include recorded survivor testimonies and an innovative 3D interactive hologram of local survivor Oskar Knoblauch, enabling visitors to ask questions and receive real-time responses.

Throughout the construction of the Center, programming will continue at the Arizona Jewish Historical Society to maintain community engagement and educational outreach. Dippold holds a master’s degree in Holocaust and Genocide Studies from Gratz College, graduating as valedictorian. She has been recognized with the Philip G. Solomon Prize for her contributions to Holocaust studies and participated in prestigious programs including the Belfer Conference at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Her past experiences also include serving as the associate director of the Stan Greenspon Holocaust and Social Justice Education Center, as well as the executive director of the Levine-Sklut Judaic Library. Dippold has held leadership roles with both the Association of Holocaust Organizations and the North Carolina Council on the Holocaust. Recently, she led a delegation to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. Her efforts in the field have earned her the Orlando Business Journal’s 2023 Power Players Award.

The Board Chair of the Arizona Jewish Historical Society, Chuck Gealer, expressed that Dippold’s appointment marks a transformative moment for the Center and its mission. Having previously lived in the Valley for seven years, Dippold is familiar with the local culture and community dynamics. Her commitment to Holocaust education is deeply personal; all four of her grandparents survived the Holocaust as the lone survivors in their families. She is dedicated to ensuring that students grasp the significance of Holocaust history and advocates for the eradication of indifference.

The Hilton Family Holocaust Education Center aims to educate both Jewish and non-Jewish communities, thereby promoting understanding, empathy, and a collective movement against prejudice and hatred. For the latest updates and more information about the Center, community members can visit the Arizona Jewish Historical Society’s website.

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Additional Resources

• Jewish News: Phoenix’s New Holocaust Center Hires Executive Director
• Wikipedia: Holocaust Education
• KTAR News: $7 Million for Holocaust Education
• Google Search: Holocaust Education Resources
• Arizona Digital Free Press: $7M for Holocaust Center
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Holocaust
• Jewish News: Maricopa County Approves $2 Million for Holocaust Center
• Google News: Holocaust Education Arizona