When you join Hillel, it’s like reclaiming the best aspects of the college experience: a dynamic learning environment, stimulating interactions with students and faculty, opportunities to learn and grow, and a community of talented new colleagues.
Off campus, Hillel’s Schusterman International Center provides professionals with an array of opportunities to have their own meaningful Jewish experiences, connect with other Hillel colleagues across the world, and develop skills as a Jewish communal leader and educator.
Hillel continually expands its professional development opportunities. Here are a few to look forward to:
Hillel Institute: In August 2011, Hillel Professionals from around the globe gathered at Washington University in St. Louis, for a truly special opportunity. This conference brought together the best of Hillel’s Engagement Institute, Immersion Experiences, and of course, Professional Staff Conference.
In addition to the Institute itself, the conference was supplemented with a variety of trainings including post-Institute trainings, New Professionals Institute, New Directors Institute and a student training component.
New Directors Institute: New Hillel directors participate in an intensive orientation each summer. The 2011 New Directors Institute took place as part of Hillel Institute at Washington University in St. Louis.
New Professionals Institute: New Hillel professionals participate in an intensive orientation each summer. The 2011 New Professionals Institute took place as part of Hillel Institute at Washington University in St. Louis.
In addition to conferences and institutes, Hillel offers a number of training opportunities to support the growth of professionals throughout the year:
New Director Coaching: New Hillel directors are matched with successful directors and other Hillel professionals to serve as coaches and mentors during their first year and a half as a new director. This program exists to help new directors achieve excellence and success by matching them with a trained coach who is a leader in the field.
David M. Cohen Fellowship for Hillel Professionals: This program provides mentorship and professional leadership development to directors with 3-plus years of field experience. Through the generosity of Abby and David Cohen, the David M. Cohen Fellowship guarantees that Hillel’s highest-performing and highest-potential directors are supported with tools to strengthen and sharpen their skills, resulting in greater professional excellence and increased capacity for the Hillels they lead.
Jewish Learning Opportunities: Hillel values Jewish learning not only for students but for its professionals as well. Hillel has partnerships with Pardes Institute and Melitz in Jerusalem as well as Brandeis Collegiate Institute in Los Angeles to offer significant and meaningful Jewish experiences and study opportunities each summer.
ACCELERATE: Hillel’s Executive Training Program: Focused on building future executive leadership from within, the pilot of Accelerate identified and developed eight high potential professionals over a fifteen month period to prepare them to assume directorships and/or positions of senior leadership within Hillel in two years. A rich combination of leadership seminars, mentorship, and individualized learning, Accelerate provides its participants with the tools to advance within Hillel. For more information see the Accelerate webpage.
In addition to the opportunities above, professional networks of colleagues with similar roles collaborate through listserves, conferences calls and face-to-face meetings on campus visits.