The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation Elects Dr. Elizabeth Edwards Spalding as new Chairman

The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation (VOC) is proud to announce that its Board of Trustees has elected Dr. Elizabeth Edwards Spalding as its new Chairman. A VOC Trustee since 2018, Dr. Spalding previously served as VOC’s Vice Chairman and is the Founding Director of the Victims of Communism Museum. As Founding Director, Dr. Spalding’s visionary leadership was pivotal in establishing the Museum, overseeing the extensive research, writing, and execution of the entire project.

Dr. Spalding teaches subjects ranging from U.S. foreign policy, national security, and international relations to the presidency, religion, and politics as Senior Fellow at the Pepperdine University School of Public Policy and Visiting Fellow at the Van Andel Graduate School of Government at Hillsdale College. A frequent public lecturer on communism and the Cold War, she is also a core faculty member in VOC’s National Seminar for Middle and High School Educators. She is the author of The First Cold Warrior: Harry Truman, Containment, and the Remaking of Liberal Internationalism and the co-author of A Brief History of the Cold War. Her scholarly and popular articles and reviews have been published widely, including in Journal of Church and State, Orbis, The Wilson Quarterly, Providence, The American Mind, Law & Liberty, H-Diplo, and Claremont Review of Books. Dr. Spalding holds a Ph.D. and an M.A. in international politics and political theory from the University of Virginia and a B.A. in politics from Hillsdale College.

Dr. Spalding succeeds Dr. Edwin J. Feulner, founder and former President of The Heritage Foundation, who stepped down as chairman of VOC after serving in that role for two historic years. Dr. Feulner will remain with VOC as the Foundation’s Chairman Emeritus.

“It has been a true privilege to serve as Chairman of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation,” said Dr. Feulner. “VOC has made incredible strides in commemorating the more than 100 million victims of communism around the world and pursuing the freedom of the more than 1.5 billion still living under totalitarian regimes. With the opening of the Victims of Communism Museum, our groundbreaking China research, the launch of our Digital Curriculum, and the expansion of our Witness Project, VOC’s impact and reach have grown to new heights. I look forward to watching Dr. Elizabeth Edwards Spalding lead VOC, ever forward, towards a world free from the false hope of communism.”

“I am honored to serve as Chairman of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation,” remarked Dr. Spalding. “Under Dr. Feulner’s inspired leadership, VOC made history with its efforts to educate future generations about the ideology, crimes, and legacy of communism and to advocate for the freedom of those still held captive by communist regimes. I am humbled — and excited — to build on Dr. Feulner’s legacy and lead VOC into a new era of remembering the victims and educating future generations about the crimes of communism. It’s time to sweep the deadliest ideology humanity has ever known onto the ash heap of history.”

For press inquiries contact Michal Harmata, VOC’s Director of Communications, at (202) 629-9500 or michal.harmata@victimsofcommunism.org.