During its November meeting, the Hillel: Foundation for Jewish Campus Life Board of Directors elected 31 new members, and named North Carolina businessman and community leader Randall Kaplan as chair-elect.
"This outstanding group of men and women has been involved with Hillel in their local communities and bring a wealth of experience to their new roles," says Interim President Avraham Infeld.
As chair-elect, Kaplan will work with the current Chair Neil Moss, Board members and Hillel professionals in key projects until his elevation to chair in the spring. Kaplan is also a member of Hillel's International Board of Governors.
The Board also voted to grant accreditation to Hillels at The George Washington University and the University of Washington. An accredited Hillel has fulfilled Hillel's highest standards of service to students. To receive accreditation, Hillels must undergo a year-long, five-step accreditation review that assesses the governance of Hillel, the programs for students, communications, resources, managerial systems, as well as relationships with the university, Hillel regional center and local Jewish community.
Among the 31 new Board members are six student members: Stanford University student Carla Fenves of Dallas, Texas; University of Colorado at Boulder student Zach Gelman of Greenwood Village, Colo.; Drexel University student David Levy of West Hartford, Conn.; Columbia University student Shaanan Meyerstein of Baltimore, Md.; New York University student Jonathan Pulitzer of Hollywood, Fla.; and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hillel student Ruthie Warshenbrot of Charlotte, N.C.
"I am honored that I have this amazing opportunity to represent the student body not only on my school, but also on other schools. Being on campus I see firsthand what is going on. I also get to see that my input makes a difference," said Yael Kolett, student Board member and a junior at the University of Texas, Austin.
The new board members include: Barbara Bank of Toronto, ON; Michele Breslauer of Los Angeles, Calif.; Amy Bressman of New York, N.Y.; Ariela Cotler of Montreal, QC; Marcelo Cynovich of Montevideo, Uruguay; Jevin Eagle of Needham, Mass.; Maury Fertig of Deerfield, Ill.; Howard Tzvi Friedman of Baltimore, Md.; Lee Hendler of Baltimore, Md.; Allan J. Jacobs of Lake Forest, Ill.; Joseph Kohane of Columbus, Ohio; Gus Lipman of New York, N.Y.; Brian Lurie of Ross, Calif.; Karen S. Moss of Columbus, Ohio; Julie Wise Oreck of New Orleans, La.; Lenore Ruben of New York, N.Y.; Morton Owen Schapiro of Williamstown, Mass.; Jodi J. Schwartz of New York, N.Y.; Jim Shane of Boston, Mass.; Bruce Sholk of Stevenson, Md.; Peter Silverman of Toledo, Ohio; Moishe Smith of Ottawa, ON; Carol Smokler of Boca Raton, Fla.; Beverly Stein of Stamford, Conn.; and Diane Wohl of Mill Neck, N.Y.