Jacob Labendz is an established academic and educator specializing in Holocaust and genocide studies, currently serving as the Director of the Gross Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Ramapo College of New Jersey since July 2022. Labendz has previous experience as an assistant professor at Youngstown State University, where responsibilities included organizing educational programs and teaching Jewish studies. Additional academic roles include post-doctoral fellowships at Penn State University, Charles University in Prague, and the Technical University in Berlin, alongside teaching positions at several institutions including New York University and Washington University in St. Louis. Labendz holds a Ph.D. in History, Politics, and Culture from Washington University in St. Louis and has a diverse background in translation, historical consulting, and research.