Seeing What Grows from the Seeds We Plant: How Paul and Deb Cohen are Honoring Their Parents’ Love of Learning
Did you know that Hillel International supports Jewish college students before they even step foot on campus by helping them access a college education? Hillel International awards a wide range of scholarships, including those funded by donors that are passionate about fostering leadership, giving to specific colleges, and supporting first-generation college students — making it easier for as many Jewish students as possible to attend college and pursue their dreams.
One example is the Sandy and Jack Cohen Endowed Scholarship, established this year in loving memory of Sandy and Jack Cohen by their children, Paul and Deb Cohen, to honor their unwavering commitment to learning.
“Our parents both challenged us to learn and be the best we could, in high school and going through college,” Paul told Hillel International.
Both first-generation Americans born to Eastern European immigrants, neither Sandy nor Jack attended college themselves, but that didn’t stop them from pursuing learning and growth outside of the traditional school systems. Jack became president of a publicly traded company with only a high school education, and served in the United States Army during the Korean War. Sandy was exceptionally well-read, a trait she shared with her mother, Paul and Deb’s grandmother, who lived with them when they were young.
“My grandmother had a fourth-grade education, but you’d never know it from talking to her,” Deb recalled. “She was extremely bright, extremely well-read. So collectively, they inspired us to always keep learning.”
Following their parents’ love of knowledge and learning, both Paul and Deb continued their education beyond undergraduate degrees. Paul holds a PhD in industrial engineering from Ohio State University and worked as a professor at Penn State University before moving to North Carolina State University, where he served as department head of the industrial and systems engineering department. Deb, who also attended Ohio State University for graduate school, holds a PhD in management and human resources, and has authored several books throughout her career. Like Paul, she brought her knowledge to the next generation of students, teaching at George Washington University and George Mason University. After leaving academia, Deb brought her passion for education and research to a large, international HR management association.
Deciding to continue investing in the future of learning was an easy decision for both of them.
“I knew that I wanted to do something that was personal, and something that I could see the value and benefit of within my lifetime,” Deb explained.
A professional connection on LinkedIn brought her to Hillel, and soon she was meeting with Charles “Chuck” Miller, Hillel International’s senior director of planned giving. When she brought up the idea of a philanthropic gift to Hillel to Paul, he was immediately on board.
“We don’t fight and we actually like each other, so it was easy to agree on what to do,” Paul joked.
Good humor aside, Paul’s personal connection to Hillel made this approach to philanthropy especially meaningful. “After my dad died, the Hillel connection was particularly important to me,” he said. He was twenty-one and Deb only eighteen when Jack passed away, and Paul had just started his first year of graduate school at Ohio State. “It was an outlet for me both personally and religiously, and the connection I had with Hillel was very meaningful to me and really helped me with a difficult time.”
Working with Chuck, Deb and Paul set up an endowed scholarship — meaning that the initial donation is designed to grow over time and continue to benefit students in years to come. Usually, there’s a waiting period for endowment funds to be available to scholarship recipients, but in partnership with Chuck, the Cohens were able to fund this first year’s recipient with a cash donation.
“I really liked the fact that we were able to provide some additional funds to support someone in the very first year, separate from the endowed scholarship going forward,” Paul said.
“Our intent is to continue to fund the endowment and build it so that in the future there will be more than one scholarship,” Deb added. “We’re still young enough to do that and to continue to enjoy the impact in our lifetime.”
The recipient of the first Sandy and Jack Cohen Scholarship is Melissa Simplicio, who just began her second year at New York University. Originally from Brazil and now studying computer science and economics, Melissa shared her story with Hillel International earlier this year.
“Becoming a Hillel International Scholarship recipient has opened the door to so many possibilities,” she wrote. “This scholarship allows me to enter my second year with the freedom to prioritize learning, leadership, and professional development without the constant pressure of juggling academics and work. It means I can invest my energy where it matters most.”
That’s exactly what Paul and Deb were hoping their scholarship would accomplish. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see the impact you have on an individual, and to be able to see what they can accomplish because of your support,” Paul said. While acknowledging that a bequest or legacy gift has its own value and impact, Deb shared that for her and Paul, being able to witness the scholarship’s impact during their lifetime was a motivating factor in how they chose to give.
“Doing something while you’re alive lets you see the fruits,” she said. “It lets you see what grows from the seeds you’ve planted.”
Learn more about the Sandy and Jack Cohen Scholarship and read more stories about incredible Hillel supporters.