Dan grew up in Marietta, Georgia, near Atlanta. He earned his Ph.D. in English from the University of Rochester and has taught courses in film, literature, and writing at colleges across the country, including the University of Rochester, the University of Iowa, and the University of Pittsburgh.

More recently, he has worked for nonprofit organizations in the Pittsburgh area. He believes strongly in using story to foster empathy and civic understanding, and he is excited to bring his expertise in curriculum design, Holocaust cinema, and nonprofit work to the Holocaust Center’s education and community programs.

Dan lives in Squirrel Hill with his wife, daughter, and two cats. Outside of work, he enjoys reading postmodern novels, listening to classic rock music on vinyl, going to art and history museums, and cheering for Pittsburgh sports teams.