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Forum to Discuss Illustrated Memoir of the Holocaust
Bucks County Community College, which has been hosting free academic forums for more than 60 years, invites the public to discuss the Holocaust memoir “We Are on Our On” at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, in-person at the Newtown Campus and online.
In her graphic narrative, Miriam Katin tells the true story of her and her mother's escape on foot from the Nazi invasion of Budapest. After faking their deaths, the two escape into hiding, disguised as a Russian servant and her illegitimate child.
The discussion, led by world-renown Holocaust scholar Rachel Perry, Ph.D., will focus on Holocaust graphic novels as a medium of memory. She will be joined by three other panelists, including Professor Paula Raimondo, who teaches in the Holocaust and Genocide Studies Certificate Program at BCCC.
Raimondo noted that most readers are familiar with written narratives of the Holocaust such as the “Diary of Anne Frank” and Elie Wiesel's “Night,” but graphic narratives show us a different perspective.
“Many people have heard of Art Spiegelman's ‘Maus,’ but there is a long history of the graphic narrative used as a medium for recording and remembering the Holocaust, from artists documenting in the camps and ghettos and in hiding, through the immediate post-war period, up to the present,” said Raimondo. “Works like Katin's, which use both pictures and words, ask us to think differently about the challenges of representing the Holocaust.”
A limited number of copies of “We Are on Our Own” are available, free of charge, at the Office of Social and Behavioral Science in room 301 of Grupp Hall on the Newtown Campus. Reading in advance is helpful but not necessary for attending the talk, which is free and open to the public, Raimondo added.
About the panelists
Rachel Perry teaches in the Weiss-Livnat Graduate Program in Holocaust Studies at the University of Haifa in Israel, and in the Holocaust and Human Rights program at Gratz College in Melrose Park, Pa. Her research focuses on the representation and memory of the Holocaust and the Second World War in visual culture. She is currently Scholar in Residence at the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute in Waltham, Mass., writing a manuscript on Holocaust graphic albums, and is preparing an exhibition on the same topic, “Who Will Draw Our History? Early Holocaust Graphic Narratives by Women Survivors, 1944-1949.” She will be participating live on Zoom.
Also joining the discussion at the Newtown Campus will be Sophie Don, Associate Director of the Philadelphia Holocaust and Remembrance Foundation; poet and visual artist Bernadette Karpa; and BCCC Professor Paula Raimondo.
Samantha Gross, Dean of the School of Social and Behavioral Science at BCCC, will moderate. This program is supported by a grant from the Mark Schonwetter Holocaust Education Foundation.
The discussion of “We Are on Our Own” takes place at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, in the Gallagher Room, located inside the Rollins Center building. The campus is located at 275 Swamp Rd., Newtown, Pa., where there is ample free parking. For a campus map and directions, visit the Newtown Campus page.
The event can also be viewed live online for those who register in advance.
For those interested in a deeper dive into the subject, the course “Rescue and Resistance” (course number HGNS 140) is offered online from March 24 to May 16. Students will explore why some people help while others “stand by,” the varied forms that resistance can take, and how these powerful responses to genocide and human suffering can help us better understand both our past and present.
For more information about the Holocaust and Genocide Studies Certificate program at BCCC, including current course offerings, contact the School of Social and Behavioral Science at sb@bucks.edu or 215-968-8270.
BCCC Announces New Vice President for Advancement & Alumni Relations
Bucks County Community College (BCCC) officials are pleased to announce that Karen O’Donnell has joined the College as Vice President for Advancement & Alumni Relations and Executive Director of the BCCC Foundation.
In this role, O’Donnell will be responsible for advancing the mission of Bucks County Community College through increasing philanthropic support from alumni, philanthropists, donors, foundations, workforce partners, and friends of the College throughout Bucks County and beyond. She will lead a team of advancement professionals and facilitate the work of dedicated volunteers on the Alumni Council and the BCCC Foundation board who, working together, engage friends and supporters of the College in support of the institutional mission of providing affordable high-quality education to residents from every community of Bucks County.
BCCC President & CEO Patrick M. Jones said, “Karen’s expertise in fundraising, corporate and foundation relations, leadership, and team building is impressive. I am confident she will help to position the College for long-term success by working closely with the leadership team and the deans in fulfilling our strategic plan.”
"I am thrilled and deeply grateful to be joining Bucks County Community College,” said O’Donnell. “This opportunity brings me back home to Bucks County, where I am honored to serve my neighbors and friends in a respected institution dedicated to excellence and community impact. I look forward to advancing the mission of BCCC and helping to shape a bright future for our students and the region."
O’Donnell is a lifelong resident of Bucks County and has served in advancement roles in several institutions including Conwell-Egan High School, St. Mary Medical Center, The College of New Jersey, and most recently, Rosemont College. She is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and a Conwell-Egan Catholic High School Wall of Fame inductee.
O’Donnell has a master’s degree in arts administration from Drexel University and a bachelor’s degree in studio art from The Catholic University of America.
BCCC's Career Services to Host Community Job Fair April 3
Bucks County Community College, which has been helping people find their passion for more than 60 years, invites the public to a free Community Job Fair on Thursday, April 3 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Nearly three dozen employers ready to hire will be represented in the Linksz Pavilion on the Newtown Campus, located at 275 Swamp Road, Newtown, PA 18940.
"Job searching can be intimidating, but remember, every great journey starts with a single step,” said Crystal Barney, administrative assistant for Student & Career Services, the organizer of the annual event. “This could be your chance to explore new career paths and open doors to your future."
During the Job Fair, students, alumni and community members will be able to speak with organizations from throughout the region who are actively hiring. A variety of professional fields will be represented during the event including medical, manufacturing, customer service, and more.
Participating employers include (not an extensive list):
Airgas
Aspire Child & Family Services
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Council Rock School District
Federal Bureau of Prisons
Fred Beans Automotive
Milestone Behavioral Health
Montgomery County, Pa.
New Castle County Police Dept.
NJM
Penndel Mental Health Center
Pa. State Police - Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement
Prime Healthcare
Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic
Univest Financial Corporation
Attendees are encouraged to dress professionally, bring copies of their resume, and be prepared to potentially engage in an on-the-spot interview. For more information, contact Career Services at BCCC at career@bucks.edu or 215-968-8081.
New Scholarship Established for Lower Bucks County Area High School Graduates
On Friday, March 14, 2025, philanthropists Gene and Marlene Epstein presented a $100,000 check to Bucks County Community College, reinforcing their commitment to expanding access to higher education for Lower Bucks County high school graduates. This generous donation from the Gene & Marlene Epstein Humanitarian Fund will provide 100 full-time, first-year students with need-based scholarships for education-related expenses. Eligible students from Bensalem, Bristol Borough, Bucks County Technical High School, Bishop Conwell-Egan, Harry S. Truman, Morrisville, and Neshaminy high schools will receive support on a first-come, first-served basis.
“Figuring out how to pay for college should not be a barrier for a young person who wants to make a better life for themselves,” says Gene Epstein, a long-time supporter and advocate of Bucks County Community College. “We want every student in Bucks County to know that there is a path forward for them at Bucks County Community College, and this scholarship will help them get started today. Don’t think you can afford college? Well, now you can!”
“Generous donors are crucial partners in helping us make a Bucks County Community Education even more affordable,” said the College’s President & CEO Patrick M. Jones. “Like me, Gene and Marlene Epstein believe in the power of education to change lives, and we are honored that they recognize Bucks County Community College as a resource in the community that effect change for the better.”
Scholarship recipients will be notified of their awards before the start of the Fall 2025 semester. For more information about the scholarships, please visit the Gene and Marlene Epstein Scholarship page.
Photo caption: Gene Epstein presenting a $100,000 check to President & CEO Patrick M. Jones, on Friday, March 14 at BCCC’s Newtown Campus. The check will fund 100 student scholarships for the 2025-26 school year.
BCCC Hosts Free Criminal Expungement Clinic Sat., April 26 in Bristol
In an effort to help people overcome past mistakes that may block future success, Bucks County Community College is hosting a free Criminal Expungement Clinic from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 26, at the Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks.
Paralegal students, under the supervision of attorneys from Legal Aid of Southeast Pennsylvania, will help people determine if they are eligible to have certain prior arrests or convictions expunged or sealed from their record.
Greg Luce, Dean of the School of Business, Innovation, and Legal Studies, said it’s the second year the College has hosted the free Criminal Expungement Clinic. After last year’s success at the Newtown Campus, the event is being offered at the College’s Bristol location this year.
“The Expungement Clinic is a powerful example of experiential learning,” noted Luce. “Our paralegal students are gaining invaluable practical experience while providing a potentially life-changing service to our community members. It's a win-win for both our students and the residents of Bucks County.”
The clinic is for individuals who:
have arrests without convictions; or
have misdemeanor convictions, without new convictions, over 10 years old; or
are over 70 years old, and their conviction is at least 10 years old; or
passed away at least 3 years ago, and a posthumous expungement is sought.
Some convictions cannot be expunged, but may be sealed so that they are not of public record. Individuals must have paid all due fines and completed any probation to qualify for expungement. The clinic may need to refer some individuals to other legal organizations due to the location of their criminal records, such as Philadelphia or outside of Pennsylvania.
All information shared with attorneys and paralegals is confidential. Paralegals may not practice law or otherwise provide legal services directly to the public except as permitted by law.
The Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks is located at 1304 Veterans Highway, Bristol, PA, 19007, where there is ample free parking. Advance registration is preferred and available online. The registration deadline is April 4. For more information, email legalstudies@bucks.edu or call 215-968-8227.
Civics Education: So, You Think You Know Your Government?
Distinguished Federal and State Judges and Practitioners Lead the 8-Week Noncredit Program Exploring Crucial Aspects of U.S. Government Bucks County Community College is excited to again offer the noncredit program, "Civics Education: So, You Think You Know Your Government?". This popular 8-week course offers participants a unique opportunity to learn about the U.S. Constitution, the court system, immigration, criminal and civil cases, and various other aspects of our government that every informed citizen should be familiar with.
Led by a rotation of distinguished federal and state judges and practitioners, the weekly classes promise an accessible, engaging, and interactive forum. Participants will delve into specialized fields of the court system, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the nation's legal framework.
The program will take place on Wednesday evenings, 6–7:15 p.m., from March 26 to May 14 at the College’s Newtown Campus (275 Swamp Road, Newtown, Pa.). Registration is limited to 100 participants, and the fee for the entire 8-week program is $50. Please note that financial aid cannot be used for this program.
To register and view the complete schedule and curriculum, please visit the Civics Education program. For more information, please email coned@bucks.edu or call 215-968-8409.
This course is made possible through the generous support of a grant from the Bucks County Bar Foundation.
