Andrew Beiter

Executive Director

Andrew (Drew) Beiter (he/him) is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Academy. An 8th grade Social Studies teacher at Springville Middle School, Drew also co-founded the Educators' Institute for Human Rights, a Washington, D.C. organization designed to provide Holocaust-based human rights training to teachers around the world. In addition to co-establishing the www.iamsyria.org and www.teachingaboutnorthkorea.org websites, Drew has been a Regional Education Coordinator for the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, a Teacher Fellow for the Lowell Milken Center, and a consultant for the Robert F. Kennedy Center's Speak Truth to Power program. In the past fifteen years, he has spoken in front of thousands of educators both nationally and globally on the power of education to heal the world.  In September 2021, he was inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame in Emporia, Kansas.

Lori RAybold

Associate Director

Lori Raybold (she/her) is the Co-Founder and Associate Director of the Academy for Human Rights and an English teacher at Hamburg High School. Earning a M.A. in English from SUNY Fredonia and Bachelor degrees in English and Education from Penn State, Lori is a Teacher Fellow for the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, as well as the U.S. Institute of Peace. As a member of the Next Generation Initiatives of the Holocaust Resource Center of Buffalo, she has been instrumental in developing teacher training programs. She has traveled to Rwanda twice with humanitarian Carl Wilkens, gaining a keen understanding of the causes of genocide and the important role education has in preventing its occurrence. In her free time she enjoys hiking and reading. One of her heroes is Martin Luther King, Jr., who famously stated, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

Betty haynes

Associate Director

Betty Haynes (she/her) is the Associate Director of the Academy for Human Rights. She joined AHR in 2018 after participating in several of the organization's professional development opportunities for teachers. Betty earned her Masters of Education from SUNY University of Buffalo and B.A. in American History from SUNY Empire State College, she is also a graduate of the Teacher Education Institute. She has participated in professional development programs across the United States, including the National Archives, New York State Archives, American Red Cross, and National Endowment for the Humanities teacher seminars. She teaches Social Studies at Cleveland Hill School in Cheektowaga, where she directs the high school musical, chairs the community book club, and is an advisor to the YMCA Youth and Government program.

Katelyn Kerker

Communications Director

Katelyn (Katie) Kerker (she/her) is the Communications Director of the Academy for Human Rights. She became involved in AHR as a student participant in the organization's 2008 founding year. She earned her M.A. in International Development with a focus in Conflict Resolution and post-conflict peacebuilding from the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver and a B.A. in Global and International Studies from SUNY Oswego. As part of her undergraduate work, she spent two weeks in Kolkata, India studying human trafficking and sex work, and during graduate school spent two months in Bosnia-Herzegovina studying its' culture, history of mass atrocities, and peacebuilding while participating in an internship at a local sustainable tourism company. As an AmeriCorps VISTA alumni (2018-2019), Katie understands the importance of national and community service. When she's not working you can find Katie exploring the shelves of her local library to find her next great read or hiking with her dog, Clutch.

Timothy redmond

Teacher training Director

Dr. Timothy J. Redmond (he/him) is the Teacher Training Director for the Academy for Human Rights and is a Social Studies teacher at Williamsville East High School. A graduate of Canisius College, Tim received his M.A. and PhD in Political Science from SUNY Buffalo. He is a Teacher Fellow for the Robert H. Jackson Center, Director of the Holocaust Resource Center of Buffalo's annual Conference for Educators, and the recipient of the 2019 Toby Ticktin Back Award for Excellence in Holocaust Education. Tim successfully spearheaded an effort to provide a Human Rights and Genocide Studies elective in his school district and his passion for human rights has taken him from Peru to Rwanda. He has published over one hundred columns and articles and his first book will be published by McFarland Press in March 2021. Outside of work he enjoys spending time with his family, reading, exercising, and playing drums in the hardcore band Snapcase. Tim's favorite quotes include, "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." John F. Kennedy and "The unexamined life is not worth living." Socrates

Alexandra Lane

Development Director

Alexandra (Allie) Lane (she/her) is the Development Director for the Academy for Human Rights. Born and raised in Buffalo, Allie has been guided in the direction of international affairs since her first year as an AHR student in 2012. She obtained her B.A. in International Relations with a concentration in War and Peace Studies and minor in Women and Gender from SUNY Geneseo and in 2018 was selected for the SUNY Global Engagement Program, where she relocated to New York City and interned in the development department at Human Rights First. Following graduation, she accepted an invitation to serve as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in the Kyrgyz Republic serving in the TEFL sector. During her time in the Peace Corps, Allie learned the local culture, language, and how to identify the needs of a community in the developing world, implementing new methodologies in the classroom and organizing three student English clubs. Despite her service being interrupted, Allie has been able to grasp the vitality of education as a human right and that a quality education needs to be ensured for children everywhere. During her free time, Allie enjoys exploring different trails and mountain ranges, whether it's the local community park or the valleys of Kyrgyzstan. She can be found carrying a good book.

Maura Brady

Executive Assistant

Maura Brady (she/they) is a long-time participant in the Summer Symposium starting her journey in 2015. After several years as a student, Maura spent several summers as an intern and is delighted to join the staff officially. After graduating from Lockport High School in 2019, Maura attended Niagara County Community College and Buffalo State University for Childhood Education. With two degrees and a certificate in education, Maura plans to continue her education at Buffalo State to obtain a Master's Degree in literacy specialty grades K-12. Maura hopes to become an elementary school teacher and teach the next generation the importance of love and tolerance.

alicia huff

Program Associate

Alicia Huff (she/her) is a Program Associate with the Academy for Human Rights. Alicia joined in 2020 after having the opportunity to speak with the Academy about her own personal activism. Alicia attended Cleveland Hill School and graduated in 2016, after that she attended SUNY Fredonia where she received her baccalaureate degree in Criminal Justice and a minor in History. After graduating from SUNY Fredonia a year early, Alicia took a year off to discover her true passion was in teaching and she is now attending University at Buffalo for her Master’s in Education. Alicia wants to become a middle school social studies teacher once she completes her degree in the upcoming years. While she is not studying, Alicia is a part of the Allies for Racial Justice based in Hamburg, NY.

Stephanie O'Donnell

Program Associate

Stephanie O'Donnell (she/her) is the Program Associate for the Academy for Human Rights. Stephanie started with AHR in 2008 and is a Social Studies teacher at Nardin Academy. Earning her M.P.S. Literacy Specialist and B.S. in Social Studies Education from Buffalo State College, Stephanie played a crucial role organizing the 2007 Day of Learning on Darfur at Daemen College and also attended the 2008 Arthur and Rochelle Belfer National Conference for Educator at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C. In 2005 and 2008, she was part of a humanitarian delegation to Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. As a former member of the Next Generation Initiatives of the Holocaust Resource Center of Buffalo, Stephanie was instrumental in developing teacher training programs and co-coordinates professional development for AHR as well. Stephanie enjoys being a mom to her two sons, reading, crochet, and anything Broadway Theater. Her favorite book is "Six Million Paper Clips: The Making of a Children's Holocaust Memorial" by Peter W. Schroeder and Dagmar Schroeder-Hildebrand.

Mike Baronich

Program Associate

Mike Baronich (he/him) is the Program Associate for the Academy for Human Rights. Mike started with AHR in 2008 as an intern and is a Social Studies teacher at Maple Grove Middle/High School. He is a graduate of Canisius College, where he oversaw the implementation of anti-bullying programs and human rights education into the college's curriculum. He received his M.A. from Buffalo State College in the field of Education Technology. His experiences in the classroom working with students and educators have allowed him to understand the importance of human rights programs and education.