Dr. Mehak Burza, the program director for Online Global Initiatives in the Ackerman Center for Holocaust Studies at the Bass School at UT Dallas, focuses her scholarly research on Holocaust studies.
Her essay “From Ashes to Lessons: The 80-Year Echo of Auschwitz” was recently published in the Athenaeum Review, a publication of the Bass School and the Edith O’Donnell Institute of Art History at UT Dallas. The essay, which marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau (the most infamous of the Nazi concentration and extermination camps), was also highlighted by the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy (ISGAP).
“Raising attention to issues related to the Holocaust is crucial for various reasons. It serves as a stark reminder of the atrocities humanity is capable of – and it fosters a commitment to prevent such horrors from happening again,” Dr. Burza notes.
Dr. Burza is an ISGAP-Oxford Summer Institute alumna. In 2023, she attended their two-week intensive workshop hosted at Pembroke College, a constituent college of the University of Oxford.
“In those two weeks, we dealt intensively with how to fight antisemitism, and we gained a lot of knowledge,” Dr. Burza said. “That’s how things got intertwined, and I ended up doing this session.”
She serves as a member of the board of directors for Teach the Shoah, a Holocaust remembrance organization that focuses on expanding awareness through storytelling.
“I have been questioned many times regarding my personal connection with the Holocaust,” she said. “I’m often asked what my direct personal connection is – I do not have one. But this field has become deeply personal. I have developed a profound empathy for and commitment to preserving and disseminating the stories of those who experienced the Holocaust.”
On April 16 Dr. Burza presented her research paper at a virtual ISGAP Academic Workshop. The audience consisted of scholars and students from across disciplines who provided feedback while engaging with Dr. Burza’s research concerning women and the Holocaust. Dr. David Patterson, ISGAP senior faculty and Hillel A. Feinberg distinguished chair in Holocaust studies at UT Dallas, led the discussion.
On April 24, Dr. Burza will lead a virtual session to commemorate Yom HaShoah, the Jewish memorial day for the Holocaust. As a Holocaust storyteller, she will narrate the story of Judy Weissenberg Cohen, a Holocaust survivor. This will be followed by a discussion with Dr. Burza, Mrs. Cohen and Dr. Deborah Fripp, executive director of Teach the Shoah. The virtual session is jointly presented by the Ackerman Center for Holocaust Studies and Teach the Shoah.
“I feel that storytelling humanizes the experiences of the Holocaust because you don’t just read; you also become that person as you narrate the story,” Dr. Burza said. “Holocaust testimony-based storytelling is crucial for interfaith audiences due to its intimate and relatable nature. Providing a platform for listening fosters a connection to history through personal narratives.”
Student Assistant
Olivia is a communications assistant who works alongside the creative team to showcase the incredible talent of the Bass School Community. When she’s not photographing events or attending classes—she loves to write sci-fi fantasy fiction stories and play D&D.