 Our Staff & Board

In 1994, the State of
Florida required schools to teach Holocaust education in all grade levels; in 2006, Barbara co-founded and co- chaired the Tallahassee Holocaust Education program, sponsored by the National Council of Jewish Women Tallahassee Section, to assist with this unfunded mandate. She developed programs and forged partnerships with the Florida Commission on Human Relations and the Leon County School District to bring Holocaust education to teachers and students district- wide.

The great success of the Holocaust Education Program led to the establishment of HERC. In April 2008, she received the Woman of Achievement award from Congregation Shomrei Torah Sisterhood for being a leader in Holocaust education in Leon County.

Thanks to her efforts, school children now participate in an annual essay and art contest about the Holocaust and the dangers of intolerance, and thousands of dollars worth of books and tapes have been made available to every Leon County teacher to use in their Holocaust education curriculum.

Dr. Richard Murgo, Ph.D. joined the faculty at Tallahassee Community College in 1994 as an assistant professor. Over the years, he served in various roles, from political science professor to associate dean of social sciences, until being selected as dean of the College of Social Sciences in 2017. He retired in 2021.

Throughout his career, Dr. Murgo supported student programs ranging from dual enrollment to Model United Nations and founded a faculty exchange program with Tianjin Foreign Studies University. He served on the United Nations Association of American Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Community Colleges Committee and as faculty Senate president from 2005-2006.

In addition to serving on the Holocaust Education Resource Council board of directors, Dr. Murgo is a member of the Executive Board of Directors of the Florida Political Science Association and is the political contributor for WTXL (ABC affiliate) for Tallahassee and Southern Georgia. Dr. Murgo received the 2012 NICSOD Excellence in Teaching and the 2011 Tallahassee Community College Club Advisor of the Year awards. He holds numerous Master’s degrees and received his Ph.D. from Florida State University.

Karen began her public service career in 1984 at the Florida State Attorney’s Office, where she served as a statewide prosecutor. She went on to serve at the Florida Bar and the Florida Public Service Commission before joining the Department of Insurance. There, she oversaw six bureaus before departing in 2000 to enter private practice.

Karen represented Florida as a founding member of the International Commission on Holocaust Era Insurance Claims (ICHEIC). She received a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from the University of Massachusetts and a Juris Doctorate with honors from Florida State University.

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Formative in Margaret’s life were two major events: 1) World War II; in which her shipbuilding family along the River Clyde in Scotland endured relentless bombing and sustained impoverishment as a result of their war effort against the Nazis; and 2) a Jewish-American family who sent for au pair assistance and received first Margaret’s aunt, and later her mother. Margaret’s mother’s life was transformed by this family and solidified our own family’s bent toward standing up to antisemitism. The War and its consequences were baked into Margaret’s genes, so to speak, and her mind was always open to learning from other people. Thankfully her family remained safe, and decades later saw the fruit of their successes in Margaret’s education. She was the first in the family to attend university because of their hard work. She dedicated years to learning how people think and behave.

After 13 years doing case management for the State’s prison population, Margaret became involved in local policy making in order to affect changes she believed were necessary to taking care of the public with their very own tax dollars. In her spare time, she enjoys her family, houseplants, knitting, and researching how public money is utilized. Margaret is excited to assist HERC in achieving its mission: education and community connection are both vital components to her own motivation to work in the public sphere just as fighting antisemitism and other forms of hate are central to her own core values and sense of purpose.

Judy enjoys working with HERC to ensure such an event never again takes place by raising awareness and enlightening the public.

In Deland, Florida, she led a study on Jewish-Christian relations that led to a partnership with DeLand’s Temple Israel and the formation of the West Volusia Holocaust Council. They offered an annual Yom HaShoah at Stetson University, provided programs for the community, and loaned trunks of materials to teachers. The study led to a profound recognition by the Presbyterian General Assembly, who printed in their newspaper that it “helped us to feel the pain of our Jewish neighbors who remember that the Holocaust was carried out in the heart of ‘Christian Europe’ by persons many of whom were baptized Christians.”

She developed a passion for learning about the development of anti-Judaism by the early Christian Church, taking graduate courses and studying scripture so that she could educate others. She continued her journey when she left DeLand, teaching and participating in Holocaust education courses in Winter Haven, Florida, and Shreveport, Louisiana. Today, she is pleased to be part of the impactful work accomplished by HERC.

Carol is honored to be part of the HERC Board and to continue its efforts to educate others about the Holocaust and eliminating hate. As Jorge Santayana said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

She was raised with a strong Jewish education and background in Jacksonville, Florida. Over the years, she has served in various leadership positions in our local Jewish community including Congregation Shomrei Torah Synagogue and Hillel.

Carol holds a master’s degree in Gerontology from the University of South Florida and a Juris Doctorate from the Florida State University College of Law. Before retiring, Carol taught nonprofit budget management and gerontology courses as an adjunct professor at the Florida State University College of Social Work. She also held various statewide leadership staff positions for associations, including the Florida Health Care Association (FHCA), LeadingAge Florida and the Florida Dental Association.

Jared has more than 18 years of experience as a lobbyist and an association executive. Today, he serves as president of the Florida Beer Wholesalers Association (FBWA). Before joining FBWA, he was with the League of Southeastern Credit Unions & Affiliates (LSCU) for 10 years. He joined LSCU as the Florida director of legislative affairs and rose through the ranks before being named president. Jared also served as chief legislative aide at a private lobbying firm and director of public policy for the American Cancer Society’s Florida Division.

Jared holds a Bachelor of Arts and received a Juris Doctorate from the Florida State University College of Law in 2006. He is also a member of the Florida Bar. Jared serves on the board of Hillel at FSU and is President of the FSU Jewish Alumni Network.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Johns Hopkins University, a Master of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Work, and a Ph.D. in Instructional Systems from Florida State University.

Susan was born and raised in Jasper, Florida, about 80 miles east of Tallahassee, and grew up attending Valdosta Hebrew Congregation in Valdosta, Georgia.

Susan had a private catering business for five years and was also the food editor of Tallahassee Magazine for five years. She opened her restaurant Food Glorious Food in November 1982 and has earned many awards, including: Best of Tallahassee, Best Outdoor Café in Florida, and 14 Golden Spoon Awards.

Her commitment to civic involvement earned Susan recognition as one of the “Twenty-Five Women to Know” by the Tallahassee Democrat. She holds leadership positions in many nonprofits, including the Refuge House, the Big Bend Hospice Foundation, the Survive and Thrive Advocacy Center, and the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra.

She also served as president of the National Council of Jewish Women and was honored by HERC as the first recipient of their Humanitarian Award. Growing up in the only Jewish family in Jasper, Susan is proud to be involved with HERC in the fight against anti-semitism and hatred.

Sam joined the original founding board of HERC and is happy to have recently returned to the board after a ten-year hiatus. Sam comes from a family of survivors. His father, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins all lived through the Holocaust. At age 11, his father was taken from his childhood home in Romania and spent 18 months in a labor camp in southern Ukraine.

Sam’s thoughts are captured in this quote by former Israeli Ambassador Dan Gillerman: “As the generation of Holocaust survivors and liberators dwindles, the torch of remembrance, of bearing witness, and of education must continue forward.”

Sheriff Harvey was elected the youngest Sheriff in Florida History in 1976 at age 26 and served 35 years as Sheriff in Wakulla County, Florida. He retired as Dean of the Florida Sheriff’s in 2011, an honor for being the longest serving Sheriff in recent Florida history. Sheriff Harvey is a past president of the Florida Sheriffs Association and Chairman of the legislative committee.

Peter Pursino is grateful for the opportunity to join the HERC board. With a background in educational leadership and music education, he has demonstrated success in elevating student achievement and fostering collaborative environments. As the Dean of Students at Elizabeth Cobb Middle School in Tallahassee, FL, Peter effectively implements personalized strategies to support diverse student needs. Additionally, he serves as the Director of Worship Arts at Faith Presbyterian Church where he is responsible for a comprehensive music program that includes numerous choirs, instrumental ensembles, and a community arts ministry.

Outside of his professional endeavors, Peter enjoys a fulfilling family life with his wife Holly, who is also a teacher in the Leon County Schools system, and their five children. His dedication to education extends beyond his professional roles, encompassing his commitment to fostering a supportive and enriching environment both at home and in the community. As an educator, Peter understands the significance of preserving history and promoting awareness of the Holocaust to ensure such atrocities are never forgotten or repeated.  Peter is eager to contribute his expertise and experience to enhance HERC initiatives.