Dr. Dina Lichtman Smith
Last updated Saturday, November 14, 2026 at 5:25 PM
Born in a displaced persons camp just three years after World War II ended, Dr. Dina Lichtman Smith grew up surrounded by stories of survival, loss, and perseverance.
On Thursday, November 19, she will bring that personal history to Bucks County Community College, sharing how her parents' experiences during the Holocaust shaped her life and continue to resonate across generations.
Presented by the School of Social and Behavioral Science and the Holocaust and Genocide Studies Certificate Program in collaboration with the Holocaust Awareness Museum and Education Center, Smith’s talk will explore resilience, identity and the lasting impact of one of history’s greatest tragedies. The presentation begins at 11 a.m. in the Zlock Performing Arts Center on the Newtown Campus.
Smith was born in the Bergen Belsen Displaced Persons camp in 1948 to parents who met at Auschwitz and survived the Holocaust. At just 18 months old, she arrived in the United States with her family, who settled in a North Philadelphia neighborhood that was home to other Holocaust survivors.
Despite the incredible circumstances of her childhood, Smith went on to earn her undergraduate and doctoral degrees from Temple University. As the CEO of DLS Coaching, Smith is a nationally recognized executive coach who has worked with CEOs of Fortune 100 companies, scientists, physicians, financial executives, and leaders.
Drawing from both her family's experiences and her professional work helping people adapt to change, Smith will discuss why preserving personal stories remains essential as the number of living survivors continues to decline.
Paula Raimondo, Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies, said Smith’s presentation benefits students and the community alike.
“Students in Literature and Art of the Holocaust have been discussing second-generation memory and the role of testimony,” Raimondo said. “Dr. Lichtman Smith’s visit to campus lets them hear, in real time, how a second-generation survivor carries her parents’ story forward.”
The event is free and open to the public. The presentation takes place in the Zlock Performing Arts Center on the campus at 275 Swamp Rd., Newtown, Pa., where there is ample free parking. Those who cannot attend in person may register to watch the livestream.
Raimondo added that Literature and Art of the Holocaust (HGNS 150) will be offered again in the Spring 2027 semester, fully online, from February 8 – May 14. In addition, registration is also open for Gender and Genocide (HGNS 130), offered in-person on the Newtown Campus, from February 8 – May 14.
For more information about the Holocaust and Genocide Studies Certificate program at Bucks County Community College, contact the School of Social and Behavioral Science at sb@bucks.edu or 215-968-8270.