Meagan McDermott

Director of Board & External Relations

Meg McDermott is the Director of Board and External Relations at the USC Shoah Foundation. In this role, she supports the Institute's Board of Councilors and partnerships with other key stakeholders. Prior to the Institute, she served as the Executive Director of Board Operations at the George Washington University. Meg previously held roles at Harvard and Tufts University, providing executive communications and special project management support for senior leadership. She holds a B.A.

Alla Svitlynets

Program Specialist

Alla Svitlynets graduated with honors from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine, holding a bachelor's degree in history and a master's degree in anthropology. She started her career in Kyiv, but after the outbreak of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, Alla made the courageous decision to relocate to Los Angeles. She joined the USC Shoah Foundation team in March 2024.

Shana Fishman

Senior Grant Writer, Constituent Affairs

Shana Fishman is a grant writer on the constituent affairs team responsible for composing grant proposals to support existing and planned program activities. Before joining USC Shoah Foundation, Shana was Director of Development and Operations at Gindi Maimonides Academy and recently earned a master's from Pepperdine University in Social Entrepreneurship and Change.  

Wendy Pedersen

Senior Analyst, Budget Management

Wendy manages budgets, serves as a bridge between the Operations, Finances, and our other departments at the Institute.

Will Horowitz

Special Project Lead, Executive Office

Will Horowitz provides external relations for the USC Shoah Foundation. Will received his bachelor’s degree in political science and his master’s degree in public administration and policy from American University. He previously worked at the Government Accountability Office, Amgen, and the American Civil Liberties Union’s Washington Legislative Office before starting at USC Shoah Foundation in 2023.

Robert Williams, PhD

Chief Executive Officer and Finci-Viterbi Chair

Dr. Robert J. Williams is the Chief Executive Officer and Finci-Viterbi Chair of the USC Shoah Foundation. He is UNESCO Chair on Antisemitism and Holocaust Research and the Advisor to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, where he also served for four years as chair of the Committee on Antisemitism and Holocaust Denial.

Kim Simon

Managing Director

Having been at the Institute for 25 years, Kim Simon was involved in developing and scaling the Institute’s impact and reach globally. She directed the development and implementation of key public engagement programs that connect USC Shoah Foundation to its many distinct audiences.

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