The Dual Role of Football During the Holocaust
A Conversation Hosted by the VHEC
This online program brings together renowned scholars to explore the complex role of football during the Holocaust.
While often seen as a unifying sport, football also reflected the deep divisions of its time, shaped by exclusion, persecution, and ideology under the Nazis. What can a sport tell us about one of history’s darkest chapters? More than you’d think.
This online program brings together leading scholars to explore the complicated role of football during the Holocaust and how it could offer identity and resilience for some, while becoming a tool of exclusion and control for others.
Football fan or history lover — this one’s for you.
Registration is now closed for this event.
Speakers
Liz Berger
Liz Berger is a PhD student in the inaugural cohort of the Antisemitism Studies Program at Gratz College. She works as a Research Consultant with UNESCO on international projects that implement antisemitism education training for educators. She is a Postgraduate Fellow at the London Centre for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism coordinating academic seminars exploring contemporary manifestations of antisemitism globally. Her research centers on how Neurodivergence and antisemitism converge in educational systems and Neurodivergence mediates individual cognitive processing of antisemitism. Liz holds a Masters of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania and a Certificate in Therapeutic Trauma work from Bryn Mawr College. She has previously worked with children, teens and adults in therapeutic outpatient settings as well as an advocate for her clients in juvenile justice, child welfare, medical and school systems.
Paul Salmons
Paul Salmons has spent more than 25 years shaping how we understand and teach the complex and emotionally challenging history of the Holocaust. A leader in Holocaust education, he has developed influential approaches to teaching, learning, and public engagement. He helped create the United Kingdom’s national Holocaust Exhibition at the Imperial War Museum, designing its educational vision and programmes. He also co-founded UCL’s Centre for Holocaust Education, where he established its pedagogical approach, authored key teaching resources, and led teacher development initiatives. Paul has also played a leading role in the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, helping to shape international policy and practice in Holocaust education.
Kevin Simpson
Dr. Kevin Simpson is a Distinguished Professor of Psychology at John Brown University. He earned his Ph.D. in counseling psychology from University of Denver, along with an M.S. from University of North Texas and a B.S. from John Brown University. Before returning to JBU, he taught for over a decade in Portland and Utah, and has held international academic roles, including serving as a Fulbright Scholar in Slovakia and conducting research as a fellow at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. His teaching spans social psychology, sport psychology, and Holocaust studies, and his scholarship uniquely explores the intersection of football (soccer) and the Holocaust—most notably in his book Soccer under the Swastika, which examines how the sport functioned within Nazi concentration camps as a lens on survival, identity, and resistance.
VHEC Moderator
Ellie Lawson
As Education Manager, Ellie Lawson is responsible for the development, advancement and support of educational initiatives at the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre. She develops resources and delivers impactful programs for students, educators, professionals, and the public.
Ellie holds a master’s degree in history from Indiana University Indianapolis, with expertise in Holocaust and genocide history. She has over seven years of experience in the museum and public history field. Throughout her career, Ellie has collaborated closely with Holocaust survivors, as well as descendants, and survivors of human rights violations, amplifying their narratives.
RSVP Registration
Registration is now closed for this past event.
