WWU Give Day 2024

Local Holocaust survivor Noémi Ban (1922-2019) was a beloved teacher and award-winning educator. She cared deeply about the pursuit of historical truth, sharing her story of loss and survival with thousands of students around the state and the world. 

At the Ray Wolpow Institute for the Study of the Holocaust, Genocide, and Crimes Against Humanity at Western Washington University we proudly carry on her legacy through our work with students as evidenced, for example, by our minor in Holocaust and Genocide Studies -- the first and only such program of study at a public university in the state of Washington.  

Your impact:

To honor Noémi’s life and legacy, we are now seeking funds for the new Annual Noémi Ban Memorial Lecture and its associated learning programs. 

Your contribution will allow us to showcase excellence and innovation in research through exceptional scholarly and educational events, thereby providing students and our on-/off-campus communities the opportunity to learn first-hand -- and in-person -- from top scholars in Holocaust & Genocide Studies. 

Nothing compares to learning from visiting scholars directly. These personal encounters - be it formally in the classroom or informally during lunch - have the power to profoundly impact students’ learning as well as their motivation to seek further education on a given topic. 

We will host speakers who captivate audiences through their innovative and rigorous academic work and instill in our students the quest to pursue academic studies in Holocaust and Genocide Studies.

Thank you for making a difference!

In coordination with internal and external organizations and universities across the United States, the Wolpow Institute already has an impressive record of free events but we simply do not have the funds to offer and plan these programs on our own. 

This is why we need your help in creating the Annual Noémi Ban Memorial Lecture and its associated learning programs.

We want to carry forward Noémi's legacy as we educate a new generation of students who can distinguish fact from fiction as they work towards ensuring a democratic future. 

Throughout the month of April and during Give Day on Thursday, April 25, 2024 make a secure donation to the Ray Wolpow Institute (Ray Wolpow Institute Fund) either online or by contacting Dr. Sandra Alfers, the Wolpow Institute director, at alferss@wwu.edu or 360 650 7427, Dr. Babafemi Akinrinade, associate director, at akinrib@wwu.edu or 360 650 2893, or Hailey Rieman, at riemanh@wwu.edu administrative assistant, or 360 560 6190.