U.S. Holocaust Museum staff director to speak

Flagler College reported to Historic City News that Victoria Barnett, staff director of Church Relations at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, will speak at Flagler College on Wednesday, September 30th.

The presentation is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in the Flagler College Auditorium for the Cecile and Gene Usdin Judeo-Christian Lecture Series.

Her topic will be “From Seelisberg to Berlin and Beyond: How the Holocaust Changed Interfaith History.”

In addition to her work at the museum, Barnett is also a general editor of “Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works,” the English translation series of Bonhoeffer’s writings.

She has authored “For the Soul of the People: Protestant Protest against Hitler “(Oxford University Press) and “Bystanders: Conscience and Complicity During the Holocaust” (Praeger Publishers). In addition, she has written numerous articles and book chapters on the churches during the Holocaust.

The Cecile and Gene Usdin Judeo-Christian Lecture Series is made possible through a generous endowed gift to Flagler College from Gene Usdin, M.D., who chose Flagler College for this special honor because of his love for the community. Sadly, Usdin passed away earlier this year.

Usdin was a former President of the American Psychiatric Association. He was also a clinical professor of psychiatry at Louisiana State University School of Medicine from 1971 to 1996 when he became clinical professor emeritus. He served as senior psychiatrist with the Department of Psychiatry, Ochsner Clinic, and as editor of ACP-Psychiatric Update, a monthly audio cassette continuing education program sponsored by the American College of Psychiatrists.

The lecture takes place in the Flagler College Auditorium, 14 Granada St., St. Augustine. The event is free and open to the public, and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Sign language interpreters are provided. Call (904) 819-6400 for more information.