University of Minnesota Hillel Executive Director Amy Olson was recently awarded senior status by Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life. Senior status acknowledges a long and distinguished record of professional service to the student, academic and Jewish community.
"Amy has demonstrated a remarkable dedication to Hillel, both at the University of Minnesota and to the entire movement," Hillel President Avraham Infeld said. "Her enthusiasm and hard work inspire students to maximize their Jewish involvement in their communities."
As a senior director, Olson joins a select group of exceptional Hillel professionals who are called upon to provide guidance and direction to the field as a whole. Olson was also granted a professional development award to apply toward personal Jewish learning and professional growth. She will use a portion of this award to study at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem in a summer session specifically tailored to Hillel professionals.
"I have been privileged to work with such a dynamic, engaging organization for most of my career, and I look forward to sharing the lessons learned in Israel with the University of Minnesota Hillel community," Olson said.
Olson began her association with the University of Minnesota Hillel as a graduate student in 1984. She began working at Hillel as the director of student activities in 1986 and served in a number of capacities. In 1995 she left Hillel for three years to serve as the executive director of the Central States and Provinces Region of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. She returned to Hillel in 1998 to become executive director.
The largest Jewish campus organization in the world, Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life, is committed to creatively empowering and engaging Jewish students through its network of over 500 campus Foundations, Program Centers and affiliates. Its long-standing dedication to building Jewish identity, while nurturing intellectual and spiritual growth in a pluralistic community, positions Hillel as a leader in building a stronger Jewish people and stronger Jewish future.