Dr Stephen Smith, founding director of The Holocaust Centre, is leaving the post to become the new executive director of the University of Southern California’s Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education, effective 15 August 2009.

“We are thrilled to see a scholar of Stephen Smith’s calibre at the helm of the USC Shoah Foundation Institute,” says USC Executive Vice President Max Nikias. “The Institute represents USC’s ambitious effort to guide the academic examination of one of the defining moments of our contemporary world, and now this effort will be led by someone with a global profile and network.”

In accepting the appointment, Stephen said: “More than 50,000 survivors of the Holocaust invested their life histories in this unique archive. To have the chance to be custodian of their timeless truths is an honour and a heavy responsibility.”

Responsible, with James, for establishing The Holocaust Centre and then the Aegis Trust, Stephen led on the creation of all the permanent exhibitions at The Holocaust Centre, as well as those at the Kigali Memorial Centre in Rwanda.

“Stephen’s appointment to this key role is wonderful recognition of the quality of the work undertaken here at The Holocaust Centre,” says James. “We have already started the process of appointing a new interim director, to build on the foundations laid. We look forward to continuing to work closely with Stephen in his important new role as a friend and ally as we enter this exciting new phase in our development.”