The Hill-tern Pipeline: From Student Leader to Hillel Professional
I was the kind of college student who found my way to the Hillel building even before my first day of classes — and I never really left. During my four years at the University of Kansas (KU), I took on a range of student leadership roles, culminating in a Hillel International marketing internship in my senior year.
I fully embraced the resources and mentorship available to me, both through KU Hillel and from Hillel International. I learned from Hillel professionals who were generous with their time and guidance as I explored what might come next after graduation. With their support, I felt confident pursuing a career as a Jewish professional. In what came as a surprise to no one but me, I’m now a Springboard Innovation Fellow at Syracuse Hillel.
I made this transition alongside two fellow “Hill-terns” (Hillel International interns), Emily and Julia. Throughout our senior year, we had developed semi-professional, mostly virtual friendships, but meeting in person — and cementing our friendship— at the Hillel International’s New Professionals Institute in July confirmed that I had made the right choice.
As a Springboard Fellow, I focus heavily on student engagement, spending time every day talking with students and supporting them however I can. My portfolio, which differs depending on university needs, includes community service and wellness programming, so I also work with students in both of these areas.
My first semester as a Springboard Fellow was both a whirlwind and a learning curve, as I navigated a cross-country move, built relationships with my cohort, students, and colleagues, and began to define what being a Jewish professional means to me. And as the semester wound down, I started gearing up for what would be a social and educational highlight of the year.
From the moment I walked into Hillel International’s Global Assembly, our annual gathering of 1,100 Hillel professionals, partners, and sponsors, I was greeted by familiar faces. I ran into Hillel International professionals I had worked with as an intern, my new Springboard cohort, current coworkers, and former supervisors who are now colleagues. The sense of connection was energizing and carried me through the next three days. HIGA was filled with opportunities to build new relationships, strengthen existing ones, and engage in learning that I’m excited to bring back to campus.
One of the highlights of the week was participating in an all-day immersive session focused on storytelling. I spent the day learning from communications professionals from Hillel International and Harvard Hillel. Having previously collaborated with some of these professionals as an intern, it was especially meaningful to engage with them as colleagues and learn from their expertise. I’m excited to implement new and creative ways to tell stories to students and donors, as well as to bring a fun improv game (which really got our creative juices flowing!) back to Syracuse with me.
It was also a joy to reconnect with current and former Hillel International interns and to see how others were navigating intern-to-professional journeys. Today, five Springboard Fellows across two cohorts are also alumni of the internship program, a testament to the impact of early professional development within Hillel. Gathering with past interns in person reinforced my gratitude for the internship program and the community it fosters.
Thanks to HIGA, I feel refreshed and re-energized going into the spring semester. The infectious energy of so many Hillel professionals in one room will stick with me for a long time. During HIGA, I also was part of a core conversation about challenges Hillel professionals may face while on the job. Feeling immediately seen and heard by people I had just met showcased the incredible sense of community Hillel provides. I’m absolutely harnessing that feeling to incorporate it as soon as the Syracuse students come back this month.
Hillel has been part of my life for as long as I can remember, and I’m deeply thankful for the role it is playing in launching my career. I’m grateful to KU Hillel and the Hillel International internship program for laying the foundation, and to Syracuse Hillel and the Springboard team for the mentorship, support, and cohort experience that continue to shape my growth. I’m excited to see where this role will “springboard” me next.
To learn more about the Springboard Fellowship or to apply, click here.