Many of you already know him, after nearly 20 years at Centropa, Fabian Rühle has officially stepped into the role of Centropa’s Director.
Fabian joined Centropa in 2008 and has been instrumental in shaping our work ever since. He established our European education program, which includes over 1,400 schools in 20 countries. He has fostered cooperations with ministries, foundations and civil society organizations across the continent. Over the years, he has conducted around 100 seminars and workshops and co-authored several Centropa exhibitions, audio walks and films about 20th century European Jewish history and the Holocaust. In 2014, he founded Centropa’s German branch, which today manages almost all of our European educational programs (with the exception of Hungary and CJN which are led by the team at the Centropa Budapest Office).
Fabian brings a wealth of experience to this role and has a deep understanding of history and education shaped by his own journey, emigrating from East Berlin to West Berlin in 1988 and from his M.A. in American History from Rutgers University and the Free University of Berlin. Before joining Centropa in Vienna, he worked for the American Jewish Committee in Berlin.
Over the years, Fabian has built strong partnerships across Europe and led our European fundraising efforts. Starting in 2026, together with US Program’s Director, Lauren Granite, and Maria Lieberman, our Director at the Centropa Budapest Office, he will expand his focus to include fundraising from US donors, further strengthening Centropa’s global impact and lasting legacy.
His team describes Fabian as a leader of many strengths but one that truly stands out is his ability to identify talents, and to create pathways for learning and development, while also offering support when needed. His seemingly never ending optimism combined with his practical problem-solving skills as well as his gift to identify new ways to place Centropa on the map, continue to motivate and create a strong sense of team and organisational belonging.
Personal connections with our teachers and cooperation partners are especially important to Fabian. This has resulted in long-lasting partnerships and has contributed to Centropa as a place of connection, friendship, and family.
Fabian on his new role: “When I grew up in 1980s East Berlin, I learned about Communist resistance during World War II. Jews, however, were barely mentioned. Later in West Berlin, I learned about Jewish victims during World War II- Jewish life before and after the war, however, was barely mentioned.
Centropa provided me with a unique window into the rich European - Jewish world of the 20th century. My goal is to carry forth Centropa’s mission, by ensuring that 21st century students will learn about that world, as well.”
We are thrilled to see Fabian step into this role and look forward to this next chapter at Centropa!
