"The Summer Institute is a laboratory of hope!"
Meet Our Team.
Andrew Beiter
is the Director of the Summer Institute and an 8th Grade Social Studies teacher at Springville Middle School. Graduating with a Bachelor's in Political Philosophy from Michigan State and a Master's in Education from Fredonia State College, Drew is a Regional Education Coordinator for the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, co-Education Director of the Robert H. Jackson Center, a Teacher Fellow for the Lowell Milken Center, a consultant for Kerry Kennedy's Speak Truth to Power program, and the Coordinator for the Next Generation Education Initiatives of the Holocaust Resource Center of Buffalo. He also co-founded the Educators’ Institute for Human Rights, an annual conference for Rwandan teachers in Kigali.
Jim Gang
is the Education Director of the Summer Institute and is a Social Studies Teacher at Hamburg High School. A graduate of Fredonia State College, with a Master's in Education from Canisius College, Jim is a Teacher Fellow for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, as well as for the Robert H. Jackson Center, where he has worked on helping teachers understand the causes of genocide and Holocaust denial. As a member of the Holocaust Resource Center of Buffalo's Next Generation Education staff, he has started a project of videotaping area Holocaust survivors. Jim has also worked within his school to create a Holocaust and Genocide Studies elective that has been taught for the last four years.
Lori Raybold
is Program Coordinator for the Summer Institute and an English teacher at Hamburg High School. Earning Bachelor degrees in English and Education from Penn State and a Master's Degree in English from SUNY Fredonia, Lori has attended the Yale Conference on Genocide, the Arthur and Rochelle Belfer National Conference for Educators, and in 2009 traveled to Rwanda with humanitarian Carl Wilkens. As a member of the Next Generation Initiatives of the Holocaust Resource Center of Buffalo, she is in charge of coordinating a Teacher Trip to the United States Holocaust Memorial Center, as well as other human rights organizations in the D.C. area.
Michael Baronich
a Global Studies Teacher in the West Valley School District, has been with the Summer Institute as an Intern since its founding in 2007. A graduate from Canisius College in Buffalo, Michael oversaw the implementation of anti-bullying programs and human rights education into the college's curriculum. His experiences in the classroom working with students and educators have allowed him to understand the importance of human rights programs and education. Michael is currently attending Buffalo State College where he is doing his MS work in the field of Education Technology. He is also a member of NYSUT's Committee for Human Rights and the Women's Committee.
Dr. Timothy Redmond
is an Associate Director for the Summer Institute and is a Social Studies teacher at Williamsville East High School. A graduate of Canisius College, Tim received his MA and PhD in Political Science from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He is a Teacher Fellow for the Robert H. Jackson Center, as well as a member of the Holocaust Resource Center of Buffalo’s Next Generation Education Staff where he organizes an annual, daylong conference for teachers in the Buffalo area. Recently, he successfully spearheaded an effort to provide a Human Rights and Genocide Studies elective in his school district, as well as traveled to Cuzco, Peru to help build stoves and schools for those in nee
Stephanie O'Donnell
is an Associate Director for the Summer Institute. After earning her BS in Secondary Social Studies Education from Buffalo State College and Masters as a Literacy Specialist at the same institution, she now is a Social Studies teacher at Newfane Middle School. Stephanie played a crucial role organizing the 2007 Day of Learning on Darfur at Daemen College, and has also attended the 2008 Arthur and Rochelle Belfer National Conference for Educators held at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C. In 2005, she was part of a humanitarian delegation to Costa Rica, doing the same in 2008 to the Dominican Republic. As a member of the Next Generation Initiatives of the Holocaust Resource Center of Buffalo, Stephanie is in charge of coordinating a Teacher Trip to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, as well as to other human rights organizations in the D.C. area.
Lara Sweeney
works at the Summer Institute as an Associate Director. Graduating with honors from SUNY Fredonia in History and Adolescence Education, she recently completed her Master's Degree in Social Studies Education at Buffalo State College. Throughout her time in college, she was involved with several organizations which focused on social justice in human rights, playing a key role in planning and executing events to spread awareness to the campus communities and beyond. In 2008 Sweeney lived and studied in Ireland for several months, focusing on the conflicts, and the pence and reconciliation process in Northern Ireland. Currently, she works in the social work field for Erie County, where she is able to directly impact and advocate for individuals in need on a daily basis. She continues to volunteer her time with different local charities and non-profit organizations.
Our Interns
