Shoah Foundation Names Douglas Greenberg, PhD, as Shoah Foundation President and CEO

Today Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation announced that Douglas Greenberg, PhD, has been named President and Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Greenberg's appointment as Shoah Foundation President and CEO will begin September 5, 2000.

Dr. Greenberg has been President of the Chicago Historical Society since 1993. He was formerly Vice President of the American Council of Learned Societies (1986-1993), and has served on the faculties of Rutgers, Princeton, and Lawrence Universities. During his distinguished academic career he has written three books and edited or contributed to dozens of scholarly and popular publications. He holds a PhD in History from Cornell University and a BA from Rutgers University.

In addition to his activities as a teacher and scholar, Dr. Greenberg has long been involved in the communication of historical understanding to the public. A former member of the Council of the American Historical Association, he serves on the Executive Board of the Organization of American Historians, as well as on many other boards in Chicago and throughout the United States.

As President of the Chicago Historical Society, Greenberg led the organization through one of the most vibrant eras in its history, during which its budget nearly doubled. He also undertook a strategic planning effort that resulted in the construction of the Historical Society's integrated Research Center and implemented a major technology initiative that expanded the institution's capacity to serve researchers, K-12 schools, and the general public. The Historical Society is about to complete a $30 million capital campaign. In recent years, Greenberg has also been a frequent speaker and author, both in this country and abroad, concerning libraries, research institutions, and their challenges. He serves as lead consultant for technology, preservation, and access projects at the Center for Jewish History in New York.

"Doug Greenberg's passionate commitment to tolerance education, his capacity for visionary leadership, and his expertise in the fields of history and information technology make him an ideal choice to lead the Shoah Foundation into the future," said Steven Spielberg, Shoah Foundation Chairman and Founder. "We look forward to his guidance as we bestow our archive of Holocaust survivor and witness testimonies to future generations."

In making the announcement, Spielberg praised Executive Director Ari Zev for his longtime dedication and effective leadership. Zev will continue to serve as Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer.