Hillel International Writers Program announces Spring 2021 Cohort

Hillel International this week announced the six students chosen to participate in the Spring 2021 cohort of the Hillel International Writers Program, a five-month opportunity for Jewish undergraduate students interested in journalism.

These talented students, who come from campuses across the nation, will use their storytelling skills to write about Hillel happenings while learning from experienced Jewish journalists and Hillel professionals. Meet our writers:

Brianna Kovit is a sophomore at Muhlenberg College majoring in media and communication and minoring in public health. On campus, Brianna serves as Assistant News Editor of The Muhlenberg Weekly and Content Editor of the college’s Her Campus magazine chapter. This summer, she also worked as an editorial intern for the Long Island Press. Brianna is excited to combine her passions for writing and Jewishness in this program.

Sam Kricsfeld is a senior at the University of Kansas majoring in journalism and minoring in creative writing. He has written for the Jewish Press of Omaha, the Kansas City Jewish Chronicle and KU Hillel. Sam is passionate about Jewish journalism and is thrilled to continue writing Jewishly for Hillel International. He is involved with KU Hillel and takes Hebrew at KU. Some of his other interests include history, music and automobiles.

Rudy Malcom is a senior studying creative writing at Johns Hopkins University, where he is editor-in-chief of the student newspaper. In addition, he is involved with Hopkins Hillel and previously served in such roles as an Engagement Intern. Through journalism and Judaism, he has enjoyed being able to contribute to a community and amplify students’ voices.

Deanna Schwartz is a journalism student at Northeastern University. She is an active freelance journalist and has written for Teen Vogue, the Boston Globe, Alma, and other publications. She has previously been managing editor of Northeastern’s independent student newspaper and a news intern at WGBH. She is a member of the Hillel International Student Cabinet.

Currently in her final semester at Tulane University, Cori Shalit is majoring in Jewish Studies and Economics. On campus, she is president of Tulane University for Israel and interns for Tulane Hillel. Off campus, she is a digital ambassador with Israel21c, a blog writer for Zuda Bar, and she works at the New Orleans JCC. Besides Jewish history, her interests include veganism, knitting, and spending time outside. 

Maddie Solomon is a junior Politics major and Education minor at Occidental College in Los Angeles, CA. She recently served as an AJC Goldman Fellow with the American Jewish Committee, and is the Vice President of her Hillel. In high school, she had a monthly column with The Lowry Aviator, and continued writing for her college newspaper. Her work has been published in The Denver Post, The Jewish Journal, Women’s Media Center, Persephone’s Daughters, among other publications. On her campus, she works with low-income, first generation students in Los Angeles pursuing higher education, is devoted to feminism and sexual assault advocacy projects, and uses her interfaith Jewish, Syrian background to lead interfaith conversations.