معرفی
Dr. Sandra Alfers is a Professor of German and Founding Executive Director of the Ray Wolpow Institute for the Study of the Holocaust, Genocide, and Crimes Against Humanity at Western Washington University. She joined Western in 2008 after teaching at institutions like Dartmouth College and Dickinson College. Her research focuses on Holocaust literature, particularly German-language poetry from Theresienstadt, and she has published extensively in English and German. Dr. Alfers pioneered digital language-learning tools, including a German mobile app and online textbook. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts Amherst (2003).
Education:
- Ph.D., Germanic Languages and Literatures, University of Massachusetts Amherst (2003)
- M.A., Modern Languages, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (1996)
- B.A., University of Nebraska at Omaha (1994)
Research Interests: Holocaust Poetry, German Literature, Holocaust Education, Second Language Acquisition, and Gender Studies in Holocaust Contexts. Her work bridges academic scholarship and public engagement through initiatives like the Wolpow Institute's curriculum development programs and teacher training.
Awards:
- 2013 AATG 'National Center of Excellence' Award for WWU's German Program
- 2018 Rep. Timm Ormbsy Award for Faculty Citizenship
Grants & Leadership: Secured $100,000 WA state grant (2024) for Holocaust education initiatives and led the creation of Western's first Holocaust & Genocide Studies minor. Serves on the Consortium of Higher Education Centers for Holocaust Studies executive committee.
Labs/Teams: Directs the Ray Wolpow Institute, which hosts international symposia, public lectures, and educational partnerships with organizations like the Simon Wiesenthal Center.
