Our Writers

In strictly alphabetical order!

  • Pete Ashdown: Founded XMission, Utah’s oldest Internet service provider. A Democrat in a very red state, Ashdown ran for the U.S. Senate in 2006. Permission to use the "alternate" commencement speech on the occasion of Dick Cheney's giving the official speech at BYU in 2007. Entitlled Fast Forward the Future.
  • Linda Bliesner: Freelance writer and alumna of Portland State University. She lives in the forested foothills of Mount Hood, Oregon. Interview with Alter Wiener (Holocaust survivor).
  • Kim Borjon: Kim's life is beautifully nonlinear. Her resume includes volunteer and paid positions in suicide prevention, sports medicine, and history. She enrolled in the graduate program (history) of Cal State Bakersfield in her forties and teaches there as well. Essay about social justice and how her father's work with United Farm Workers led her straight to White Rose resistance. 
  • Michael DeGroote: Staff writer with the Deseret News in Salt Lake City, Utah. He frequently writes about topics related to family history and genealogy. Interview with Reneé Hecht Tully and Frieda “Dolly” Schein Hecht (Holocaust survivors) .
  • The Holocaust Centre (UK): 2011 "Twitter campaign" as joint project with Center for White Rose Studies. Can be read on Twitter at #WhiteRoseBall.
  • Christine Faye Kohler: Freelance writer in Ballinger, Texas. Her journalism career includes a memorable stint as foreign correspondent for a major newspaper chain. While based on Guam, she covered the West Pacific for American readers. She also lived in Japan in 1986. Short bio about Chiune Sugihara (Japanese resistance).
  • Dr. Magdalena Kubow: PhD in history from Western University, Canada. She writes about Polish history, especially but not limited to Holocaust studies. Her essay for us: "Caught in an Ancient Rite of Sex and War: The Sexual Abuse of Women during World War II."
  • Leo Melamed: An attorney by profession, he is an active futures trader. He holds an Honorary Professorship at Renmin University, Beijing, and in 2007 was appointed Honorary Dean of Peking University. He wrote about his and his parents' escape from Bialystok, and of his return to his hometown as an adult.
  • Dr. Armin Mruck: Professor Emeritus, Towson University, has published and lectured on the topic of German resistance in the USA, Germany, and Poland. He serves pro bono as Coordinator of the Carl von Ossietzky Universität-Oldenburg-Towson University partnership activities. In addition to his scholarly work on German resistance, he has remained at the forefront of German-Polish reconciliation efforts. Articles about intersection of German resistance and U.S. government; and early White Rose historiography.
  • Gernot Römer: Retired editor-in-chief of the Augsburger Allgemeine, Augsburg’s largest daily newspaper. Long before retiring in 1994, he dedicated himself to publishing a record of the contributions made by Jews in Schwaben to the cultural, political, and economic life within that region of Germany. Interview with Walter Teutsch (Holocaust survivor).
  • Domenic Saller: Grandson of Lilo Ramdohr, Domenic currently works as a technical translator in Munich. He is also one of the only White Rose grandchildren working to preserve the true story of their work and friendship. Short biography of Nikolay Daniel Nikolaeff-Hamazaspian, one of Alexander Schmoell's closest friends.
  • Annie Laura Smith: Freelance writer living and working in Huntsville, Alabama. She earned a BS in education (cum laude) and a M.Ed. in science and math education from the University of Florida. Her interests range from technical writing, to testing and educational materials, but she has a soft spot for historical research regarding the Holocaust. Short bios of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Virginia Hall.
  • Tom Speelhoffer: Fellow Fulbrighter to Germany, and Math/German high school teacher in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Long-time president of Philadelphia Chapter of the Fulbright Association. Essay about Köpenick Blood Week.
  • Rita Whitman Steingold: Freelance writer, and teacher of the blind, living and working in Oceanside, New York. Essay regarding Shimon Srebrnik (Holocaust survivor).
  • Dr. Gerhard Strasser: Professor Emeritus of German & Comparative Literature from Pennsylvania State University, currently resides in Landshut, very near the scene of this rescue effort. He is working to ensure that the memories of those who had the courage of their convictions are preserved, that they are honored for the audacity to say no. Short essay about resistance efforts in Ergoldsbach, Germany, centered on John Weiner.
  • Drew Vernon: BYU alumnus and currently Director of Education, Tonies USA. Essay for Leaflets of Our Resistance, Subordinate Causes.
  • Elizabeth Wilcox: Principal Information Developer for Symantec Corp. in Lindon, Utah. Nevertheless, her passion has been and continues to be documenting oral histories. She first encountered Master Weaver Ruth Schwager nee Teutsch (Holocaust survivor) as the teacher in her weaving class at the Pioneer Craft House, and this interview with one of Utah’s most notable citizens was born.