Hillel Staff and Students Recognized at the “Shine a Light on Antisemitism Civic Courage” Awards
This month, Shine A Light announced the winners of the third annual Shine A Light on Antisemitism Civic Courage Awards. Powered by The Jewish Education Project, these awards honor individuals who exemplify taking action against antisemitism and hate.
Hillel International is proud to share that four members of the Hillel community were recognized with awards this year: Rachel Sasiene, director of the Israel Action and Addressing Antisemitism Program at Hillel International; Keira Kepets, Hillel president at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice; Jacqueline Dressler, senior director of advocacy at Hillel Ontario; and Dr. Amy Milligan, director of Old Dominion University Hillel.
First created in 2023, the Shine a Light on Antisemitism Civic Courage Awards recognize individuals in North America who are countering hate and taking action against antisemitism often through relationships and bridge building. There are nine award categories that include Jewish campus professionals, university students, and university administrators. Rachel Sasiene and Jacqueline Dressler received awards as Jewish campus professionals, and Keira Kepets was recognized in the university student category. Dr. Milligan was honored in the university educator and administrator category.
Rachel Sasiene
In her role at Hillel International, Rachel Sasiene supports more than 300 campus Hillel communities in helping students navigate rising antisemitism while maintaining a sense of pride and confidence in their Jewish identity. As a Jew of color, she brings a unique perspective, emphasizing the importance of bridge building and solidarity across communities.
“I am deeply honored to be recognized for the work my team and I are so committed to at Hillel International,” said Sasiene. “We believe every Jewish student deserves to be fully Jewish on campus, supported by a loving community of their peers. While my team works tirelessly to triage and respond to antisemitic and anti-Israel incidents, our ultimate goal is to educate about and celebrate Israel. My love for Am Yisrael, the Jewish People, grows with every resilient student I meet.”
“At moments when communities feel vulnerable, Rachel models confidence and belonging,” added Jon Falk, Hillel International’s vice president of Israel engagement and confronting antisemitism, who works closely with Sasiene and nominated her for the award. “She creates spaces where students and professionals feel not only supported but proud of who they are. When antisemitism tries to push students down, Rachel insists the response must be strength and visibility.”
One of Sasiene’s most innovative projects has been promoting and installing solidarity mezuzot — mezuzah cases displayed without the kosher scroll as a symbol of allyship and support of the Jewish community. This kind of creative thinking about Jewish pride and unity has helped Sasiene emerge as a nationally-recognized voice in the fight against antisemitism, not just on campus but throughout the Jewish community. She merges immediate crisis response with strategic planning, ensuring that campuses aren’t just prepared to handle immediate incidents, but also plan effectively to prevent future occurrences.
“This recognition speaks volumes about Rachel’s integrity, her leadership, and the profound impact of her work supporting our Hillels in confronting antisemitism on campuses across the country,” said Falk. “I’m so proud to see her contributions elevated on a national stage.”
Keira Kepets
At John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Hillel President Keira Kepets has become an outspoken leader in the fight against antisemitism. After noticing biased presentations in a victimology class in 2024, Kepets not only spoke directly with her professor, but also started using her platform with Hillel to expose and address antisemitism on campus. She testified at a New York City Council Higher Education Committee hearing on the Lippman Report on city university policies relating to antisemitism, met with NYC Mayor Eric Adams, and also serves as the CUNY cohort leader for the Hillel International Israel Leadership Network.
“I am deeply honored to be a 2025 recipient of the Shine A Light on Antisemitism Civic Courage Award as a university student,” Kepets said. “My college experience took an unexpected turn when antisemitism surged on my campus after October 7th. In response, I made it my mission to advocate for Jewish students who were facing profoundly challenging and painful incidents. Standing up during those moments was not a choice, it was a responsibility. This award is especially meaningful to me because it affirms that speaking out matters and how courage can create change.”
“We are so proud of Keira, our amazing Hillel president, for being awarded this truly well-deserved honor,” said Ilya Bratman, executive director of the Leader Family Hillel at Baruch College. “Over the past three years, we have been privileged to watch Keira grow into an extraordinary leader, navigating immense challenges on our campus with courage, integrity, and heart.”
Kepets has written about her experiences with the Israel Leadership Network and other aspects of her work fighting antisemitism and anti-Israel rhetoric. She continued her leadership growth by taking part in the Israel on Campus Coalition Geller International Fellowship, traveling to Israel and the United Arab Emirates to deepen her connection to Jewish life, history, and culture.
“Keira has stood up to serious adversity, modeled resilience, patience, and strength, and consistently worked to support and bring together students across differences,” Bratman said. “Through her leadership and example, Keira has inspired others to step forward, get involved, and believe that positive change is possible even in difficult moments.”
Jacqueline Dressler
At Hillel Ontario, Jacqueline Dressler oversees campus advocacy across nine campuses, impacting a Jewish population of about 14,000 students. She plays a central role in addressing antisemitism, working not just with university leaders, but also directly with students.
“I am inspired by a deep sense of responsibility to safeguard the right of Jewish students to be openly and proudly Jewish and Zionist on campus without fear,” Dressler said. “Their resilience is the fuel that enables me to keep pushing institutions to meet their obligations to build campuses where Jewish identity is welcomed, not demonized — and to hold those who do not uphold this standard to account.”
Dressler’s work keeps her constantly on the move: from strategy and incident meetings with university administrators to attending student programs to sharing her experience and insights as a thought leader with other professionals. She also created an antisemitism education module that has become a nationwide standard, and regularly works with external organizations to enhance that training.
“This recognition from Shine A Light strengthens my resolve to keep showing up for Jewish students, demanding that they receive the supportive campus environment afforded to all students,” she said.
Dr. Amy Milligan
Dr. Amy Milligan is a central figure of Jewish life and community at Old Dominion University. In addition to her work as the director of the campus Hillel, Dr. Milligan also serves as the Batten Endowed Associate Professor of Jewish studies and women’s studies and the director of the Institute for Jewish Studies and Interfaith Understanding. She is also the founder of the campus Jewish caucus.
“Jewish students and Jewish life are at the center of all that I do,” Dr. Milligan shared. “Education, visibility, and accountability are essential to confronting antisemitism and anti-Zionism, particularly in academic spaces, and I am motivated by a responsibility to ensure that Jewish students are not only protected, but fully seen, heard, and supported. This award affirms the urgency of that work and strengthens my resolve to continue it with clarity and courage.
That commitment to Jewish life on campus comes with a lot of attention — not all of it positive. Dr. Milligan has experienced event disruptions, vandalism of Hillel logos, and hateful messages and social media harassment targeting her directly. However, these attacks have only made her more determined to support Jewish students and Jewish scholarship. She has contributed to articles and journals, including recently co-authoring a piece examining the effects of academic boycotts, and hosts the Am Yisrael CHAI Café in her office, giving Jewish students a safe space to gather, connect, and be themselves. Additionally, she is devoted to working on multifaith dialogue and bridge-building programs, fostering open conversations and inter-community relationships.
Congratulations to all of the awardees — this recognition is so well-deserved, and we are so proud of you. We can’t wait to see what you do next!