Holocaust and Genocide Commission, Illinois
Board and Commission Details
Contact Name
Danny M. Cohen, Ph.D.
Contact Title
Commission Co-Chair
Contact E-Mail
dannymcohen@northwestern.edu
Function
The Commission shall: (1) provide advice and assistance to public and private elementary and secondary schools and institutions of higher education in this State regarding implementation of Holocaust and genocide courses of study and awareness programs; (2) meet with appropriate representatives of public and private organizations, including service organizations, to provide information on and to assist in planning, coordinating, or modifying Holocaust and genocide courses of study and awareness programs; (3) determine which, if any, existing Holocaust or other genocide memorials, exhibits, or other resources could be included in or used to support Holocaust and genocide courses of study and awareness programs; (4) compile a list of volunteers, such as Holocaust or other genocide survivors, liberators of concentration camps, scholars, and members of the clergy, who have agreed to share, in classrooms, seminars, exhibits, or workshops, their verifiable knowledge and experiences regarding the Holocaust or other genocide; (5) coordinate events in this State memorializing the Holocaust and other genocides on January 27, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, on the Days of Remembrance established by the United States Congress, or on any other day designated by the Commission for that purpose; and (6) solicit volunteers to participate in commemorative events designed to enhance public awareness of the continuing significance of the Holocaust and other genocides.
Term
After initial expiration date, the terms become staggered with five each expiring in 2016, 2017 and 2018. New members serve four year terms.
Senate Confirmation
No
Qualifications
Appointments of public members to the Commission shall be made: (1) without regard to the race, color, disability, sex, religion, age, or national origin of an appointee; and (2) so that each geographic area of this State is represented on the Commission.
Compensation
A public member of the Commission is not entitled to compensation but is entitled to reimbursement for the travel expenses incurred by the member while transacting Commission business.
Composition
The Commission is composed of 22 members as follows: (1) 19 public members appointed by the Governor, including one student; and (2) 3 ex officio members as follows: (A) the State Superintendent of Education; (B) the Executive Director of the Board of Higher Education; and (C) the Director of Veterans' Affairs. The President and Minority Leader of the Senate shall each designate a member or former member of the Senate and the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives shall each designate a member or former member of the House to advise the Commission. A person appointed as a public member of the Commission must be a resident of this State. Public members of the Commission must include: (1) persons who have served prominently as leaders of or spokespersons for public or private organizations that serve members of religious, ethnic, national heritage, or social groups that were subjected to the Holocaust or other genocides; (2) persons who have significant professional experience in the field of Holocaust or genocide education; (3) persons who represent liberators of Holocaust or other genocide victims; and (4) persons who have demonstrated a significant, particular interest in Holocaust or genocide education.
Authority
20 ILCS 5010/10
Member Names
| Name | Member Expiration | Member Since | Affiliation | Appointed By | Position | Title | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oberman, Samantha | 02/01/2027 | 12/09/2020 | Governor | Member, Public | Cook | ||
| Szany, Kelley | 02/01/2027 | 12/09/2020 | Governor | Member, Co-Chair | Lake | ||
| Helfer, Jason | 06/21/2022 | Statute | Ex-Officio, State Superintendent of Education Designee | ||||
| Ostro, Ginger | Statute | Ex-Officio; Executive Director of the Board of Higher Education | |||||
| VACANT | Statute | Ex-Officio, Director of Veterans' Affairs | |||||
| Morgan, Rep. Bob | 02/11/2021 | Democrat | Speaker of the House | State Representative | |||
| Feigenholtz, Sen. Sara | 01/08/2023 | 12/31/2020 | Democrat | Senate President | State Senator | ||
| Rauch, Leah | 02/01/2026 | 03/22/2024 | Governor | Member, Public | Cook | ||
| Cervantes, Henry | 02/01/2026 | 03/29/2024 | Governor | Member, public | Cook | ||
| Durkin, Jim | 12/19/2024 | Republican | House Minority Leader | State Representative or Former State Representative | |||
| Weinberg, Jill | 02/01/2027 | 12/09/2020 | Governor | Member, Public | Lake | ||
| Fowler, Dale | 05/13/2021 | Republican | Senate Minority Leader | State Senator | |||
| Sefer, Ida | 02/01/2027 | 04/05/2024 | Governor | Member, Public | Cook | ||
| Goodman, Jack | 02/01/2028 | 12/09/2020 | Governor | Member, Student | Cook | ||
| Kiel, Douglas Metoxen | 02/01/2027 | 12/09/2020 | Governor | Member, Public | Cook | ||
| Rembert, Keisha | 02/01/2025 | 12/18/2020 | Governor | Member, Public | Will | ||
| Cohen, Daniel M. | 02/01/2027 | 12/09/2020 | Governor | Member, Co-Chair | Cook | ||
| Flanagan, Nora | 02/01/2025 | 12/09/2020 | Governor | Member, Public | Cook | ||
| Paehler, Katrin | 02/01/2028 | 04/12/2024 | Governor | Member, Public | McLean | ||
| Cushman, Sarah | 02/01/2027 | 12/09/2020 | Governor | Member, Public | Cook | ||
| Niedzinski, Michael | 02/01/2022 | 02/19/2021 | Governor | Member, Public | Cook | ||
| Chhorm, Paul A. | 02/01/2026 | 07/19/2024 | Governor | Member, Public | Cook | ||
| Gall, Jessica | 02/01/2027 | 12/18/2020 | Governor | Member, Public | Cook | ||
| Tatsuko Loughnane, Maureen | 02/01/2028 | 06/28/2024 | Governor | Member, Public | Cook | ||
| Zakaria, Nasir | 02/01/2029 | 11/08/2024 | Governor | Member, Public | Cook | ||
| Ntihirageza, Jeanine | 02/01/2025 | 08/02/2024 | Governor | Member, Public | Cook |