Read praise from our former students about Jewish Studies at IU.
Jewish Studies alumni pursue careers in fields as diverse as education, political activism, administration, scholarly research, journalism, business, public relations, medicine, social work and the clergy. A degree in Jewish Studies enhances skills in research and writing, critical thinking, cultural awareness, creative thinking, public speaking, and persuasive communication. These are vital skills in today’s workplace and have helped Jewish Studies graduates find careers that meet their personal objectives.
Jewish Studies students (front row) with IU JSP alumni (back row-left to right) Rabbi Laurie Matzkin, Rabbi Philip Ohriner, and Jewish educator Emily Walsh.
Cantor Janet Roth Krupnick (1981) is Cantor at Summit Jewish Community Center in New Jersey.
Greta Friedman Rothschild (1984) is Education Director at Aitz Hayim Center for Jewish Living in Chicago.
Renee Hasten Halevy (1986) is an artist in Israel.
Bekki Harris Kaplan (1987) is Executive Director of Beth Emet, the Free Synagogue in Evanston.
Laura Kepes Linder (1988) is Executive Director of the Jewish Foundation of Memphis.
Leslie Kepes Pomerantz (1988) is Senior Vice-President of Development for the Associated Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore.
Rabbi Bruce Elder (1989) is Rabbi of Congregation Hakafa in Glencoe, Illinois.
JSP Alumni Wendy Rapport Grinberg, Jennifer Zwilling, and Andrea Fram Plotkin – Alumni Fellows at the 2011 Jewish Studies Career Night.
Rabbi Braham David (1991) is Rabbi of Temple Shalom in Medford, Massachusetts.
Debra Barton Grant (1991) is Executive Vice President of the South Bend Jewish Federation.
Nancy Brenowitz Katz (1992) is Director of the Dietetics Program at the University of Maryland.
Robyn Jacobs Cutler (1993) is President of Cutler Consulting in Florida.
Jill Laidman Davidson (1993) is Systems Analyst/Database Administrator for the Mandell JCC in Cleveland.
Stephanie Stern Fink (1993) is an Outreach Specialist for the Union for Reform Judaism.
Rabbi Eli Garfinkel (1993) is Rabbi at Temple Beth El Somerset in Somerset, New Jersey.
Rabbi Yael Splansky (1993) is Associate Rabbi of Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto.
Jessica Bennett Mehlman (1994) is Assistant Director of Financial Resource Development at the Jewish Foundation of Central New Jersey.
Brian Shankman (1994) is Mid-Atlantic Regional Director for AIPAC.
Adam Tennen (1994) is Mid-Atlantic Area Executive Director for BBYO.
Jen Zwilling (1994) is Director of Human Resources for Hillel.
Shari Zitofsky Churwin (1995) is Education Director of Ansin Religious School of Congregation Ohebei Shalom, Brookline, MA.
Yosh Eisbart (1995) is Principal for NIMBL LLC in Denver.
Jessica Hazan Jundef (1995) is Technical Coordinator at the Solomon Schechter School of Greater Monmouth County in Marlboro, New Jersey.
Amy Allee Newman (1995) is Curriculum Development Facilitator for CSI 2 at JFMD Alliance for Jewish Education and Early Childhood Education Associate at the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit.
Brad Olswang (1995) is president of Premier Medical Services, Inc. in Chicago.
David Podgursky (1995) is a real estate and mortgage broker in Boca Raton.
Ida Shapiro (1995) is Senior Vice President Business Control Manager for Bank of America in Atlanta.
Cari Bleckner Bederow (1996) is Executive Director of Financial Planning and Analysis at Chanel.
Jonathan Fass (1996) is Assistant Executive Director of Jewish Life and Learning at the Houston JCC.
Stacey Fenster (1996) is Creative Manager at Burrell Communications in Chicago.
Noah Garfinkel (1996) teaches English at Millennium Tribeca High School in Manhattan.
Gina Lewald-Fass (1996) is a Judaics and Hebrew teacher at the Emery-Weiner Day School in Houston.
Alberta Comer (1997) is Dean of the Indiana State University Library.
Jennifer Hedderich Dubinsky (1997) is Preschool Curriculum Consultant at BJBE Early Childhood Program in Deerfield, IL
Ken Fisher III (1997) is owner of Ken Fisher Realtors in Fishers, Indiana.
Melissa Zeman Wachsman (1997) is Director of Social Services at the Bethesda Home in Chicago.
Bradley Finkel (1998) is Associate Director of Camp Chi, the camp of the JCC of Chicago.
Jessica Feder Gamlin (1998) is Director of Resident Services at Brookdale Senior Living.
Rachel Murov Greenberg (1998) is Director for AIPAC in Palm Beach.
Dan Hart (1998) is Manager, Study Abroad and Exchange Programs at Arizona State University.
Allen Ketchersid (1998) is the Minister at the Unionville Church of Christ.
Lisa Kohnke (1998) is Deputy Director of Special Events, Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmenal Affairs at the White House.
Lindsey Barton Mintz (1998) is Executive Director of the Indianapolis Jewish Community Relations Council.
Andrea Fram Plotkin (1998) is Special Events Director for Jewish Home in New York City.
Stefanie Kreitzman Rhodes (1998) is Director of Member Services and Foundation Professionals at the Jewish Funders Network.
Rabbi Scott Segal (1998) is Rabbi at Congregation Am Echod in Lindenhurt, IL
Ilene Scholnick Ausubel (1999) is Annual Campaign Director at the Education Alliance, and Jewish World Editor/Writer of the Times of Israel Website.
Amanda Borschel-Dan (1999) is Editor of Jewliciousu.com Website for Jewish College Students.
Simon Braune (1999) is librarian at the Middle East Institute’s George Camp Keiser Library in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Jared Hershenson (1999) is a pediatrician in Columbus, Ohio.
Marci Ackerhalt-Price (2000) is Manager of Foundation Relationships at Feeding America.
Robin St. Cyr Anderson (2000) is Associate Director for Camp Young Judaea Midwest.
Pam Berkowitz (2000) is an Associate Attorney with Hoogendoorn Talbot LLP in Chicago.
Julie Rubinfeld Brodsky (2000) is Program Associate, PJ Library at the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago.
Mia Budescu (2000) is a doctoral student in Developmental Psychology at Temple University.
Jonah Geffen (2000) is a rabbinical student at The Jewish Theological Seminary.
Rachael Petru Horowitz (2000) is Director of Development at the UCLA Hillel.
Leslie Cohen Kastner (2000) is Planned Giving Professional (Coordinator, CJL) at the Jewish Federation of St. Louis.
Jennifer Baumel Kramer (2000) is Manager, Product Research at Sony Electronics.
Shauna Replane Leavey (2000) is Principal at Temple Emanuel in Reisterstown, Maryland.
Wendy Gossman Margolin (2000) is Communications Director for Ida Crown Jewish Academy.
John Meyers (2000) is an IT Security support specialist for IBM.
Kate Breiter Uslan (2000) is Writing Manager for Alliance for a Healthier Generation.
Jami Trockman Bachrad (2001) is Development Officer, Southern California Region at Birthright Israel Foundation.
Jessica Auerbach Burgoon (2001) is Assistant Director of Development for Jewish Home and Hospital Life Care System in NYC.
Rachel Brand (2001) is Area Development Officer for the Northern Area for Hadassah Southern California.
Michael Ecker (2001) is a teacher at San Dieguito Union High School in Encinitas, California.
Dr. Debora Sasso Herold (2001) is a Lecturer of Psychology at IUPUI.
Emily Malinowski (2001) is Marketing Associate at Chatham Imports.
Rabbi Laurie Matzkin (2001) is Assistant Rabbi and Director of Lifelong Learning at Congregation Kol Emeth in Palo Alto.
Cantor David Reinwald (2001) is Cantor at Temple Beth Sholom in Santa Ana, CA.
Ethan Uslan (2001) won the World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest. A professional ragtime pianist, he has performed on NPR’s Prairie Home Companion.
Dr. Joanne Weingarten (2001) is a mental health counselor in Los Angeles.
Chantelle Aspey (2002) is vice president for public relations for Endemal USA, a producer of tv shows.
Shira Behar (2002) is a teacher at the Orchard School in Indianapolis.
Dr. Robert Cating (2002) is Director of Biotechnology Research at Twyford International.
Miriam Pullman Friedman (2002) is Director of Development for the Jewish Family & Career Services of Atlanta.
Joel Goldsmith (2002) is a Sourcing Manager for General Mills.
Andy Kastner (2002) is the Rabbi at Washington University Hillel.
Josh Kocher (2002) is a lawyer in Noblesville, IN.
Diana Kogan (2002) is a Program Officer for the Claims Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany in New York City.
Jonathan Lipnick (2002) is living in Jerusalem and completing a doctoral degree in Religious Studies at Harvard University.
Jennifer Micon (2002) is Instructional Coach at LEARN Charter School Network in Chicago.
Brant Moriarity (2002) is a Faculty Lecturer at the Kelley School of Business at IU.
Rabbi Philip Ohriner (2002) is Assistant Rabbi at Congregation Beth David in Saratoga, CA.
Amanda Meyer Radman (2002) is Administrative Assistant to Rabbi Burg at Anshe Emet Synagogue in Chicago.
Josh Samis (2002) is Associate at Paul Hastings (law firm).
Ruth Schachter (2002) is pursuing a master’s in Jewish education at the Hartman Institute in Jerusalem.
Emily Sonenshine (2002) is a second grade teacher at the Davis Academy in Atlanta.
Dr. Jennifer Steiman (2002) Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology at the University of Chicago.
Sarah Strnad (2002) is Community Organizer at International Jews for Racial and Economic Justice.
Dr. Yuval Asner (2003) is a psychiatric resident at Johns Hopkins University.
Jennifer Bell Hillel (2003) is Development Associate at Birthright Israel Foundation in NY.
Mat Bloom (2003) is Associate Attorney at Scott, Halsted & Babetch in Chicago.
Rabbi Seth Cook (2003) is the Aish Rabbi at Indiana University.
Cantor Asa Fradkin (2003) serves Temple Sholom, a Conservative congregation, in Greenwich, CT.
Marie Harf (2003) is Associate Policy Director for National Security for President Obama's election campaign.
Rabbi Drew Kaplan (2003) is Rabbi for Alevy Jewish Student Services at Long Beach and Orange County Hillels.
Ashley Plotnick (2003) is Hebrew School Principal at B’nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim in Deerfield.
Jonathan Azulay (2004) is Managing Director of Studley, Inc. in Chicago.
Emily Eisenberg Nasatir (2004) is Senior Developement Officer at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago.
Sarina Fogel Gerson (2004) is a Consultant at Toffler Associates.
Jaime Katz (2004) is Prevention Coordinator at Regional Prevention Center in Olathe, KS.
Daniel Kuperstein (2004) is an attorney with Fox Rothschild LLP in New York City.
David Lizzo (2004) completed an M.A. in International Affairs at Washington University.
Leah Nahmias (2004) is Program Officer at the New York Council for the Humanities.
Sam Rodin (2004) is Director of Informal Education at Congregation B’nai Tikvah in Chicago.
Jory (Daniel) Wall (2004) is a Staff Accountant with Welenken, Himmerlfarb & Co. in Louisville.
Emily Walsh (2004) was a Wexner Fellow while a student at Hebrew Union College in Jewish Communal Service and now is Assistant Director of Education at Congregation B’nai Jeshurun in New York City.
Dr. Brooke Lipman Weingarden (2004) is a psychiatric resident at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit.
Rabbi Elizabeth Wood (2004) is Associate Rabbi at Reform Temple of Forest Hills in Queens.
Julie Avchen (2005) is Transportation Specialist at CF Industries.
Henry Bernstein (2005) is Youth Director at Moriah Congregation in Deerfield, Illinois.
Lauren Shideler Blacher (2005) teaches 4th grade in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Rabbi Stephanie Clark Covitz (2005) was ordained at Hebrew Union College in May 2012.
Rabbi Jennifer Gubitz (2005) is Assistant Rabbi at Temple Shir Tikva in Wayland, MA.
Jonathan Ginburg (2005) is Account Supervisor at the Dalton Agency in Atlanta.
Jessica Reiter (2005) is a Sales Representative - Endocrine Division for Eli Lilly & Company.
Miles Roger (2005) is Assistant Director of the Bureau of Jewish Education in Indianapolis.
Jen Kraus Rosen (2005) is Corporate Financial Officer for Moishe Houses.
Stacy Weissman Rudd (2005) is Director of Academic Affairs for the Consulate General of Israel for the Midwest.
Laura Siegel Perpinyal (2005) is Director of Congregational Learning at Temple Chai in Long Grove, IL.
Michelle Steiman (2005) is a lawyer at Harris & Harris, Ltd. in Chicago.
Rabbi Sarah Smiley (2005) is the Assistant Rabbi Educator at Temple Emanu-El in Westfield, NJ.
Rachel Vilensky (2005) is an attorney with the Marion County Public Defender Agency- Juvenile Division.
Lauren Weinberg (2005) is Farm Manager at the Isabella Freedman Retreat Center.
Sonya Weisburd (2005) is Chapter Coordinator (Western U.S.) for Active Minds, Inc. which promotes mental health on college campuses.
Justin Bender (2006) is a sales analyst for United Airlines.
Jonathan Bubis (2006) is a rabbinical student at American Jewish University.
Melissa Dress (2006) is Diabetes Nurse Educator at Joslin Diabetes Center and Nurse at Provant Health Solutions and New England Sinai Hospital.
Matthew Dunn (2006) completed an MSW at Yeshiva University in 2009 and is the Community Sales Director at Atria Senior Living Group.
Shira Gross (2006) is Account Manager at Performance Revenue.
Michael Kushnick (2006) is a rabbinic student at The Jewish Theological Seminary. .
Philip Sherman (2006) is a rabbinic student at Hebrew College in Boston.
Aliza Sinkinson (2006) is Political Program Manager at McKesson Corporation.
Keren Neiger Arazi (2007) is Director of International Development and Marketing at Marom Philanthropy and Business.
Joanna Blotner (2007) is the Religion & Faith Program Coordinator at Human Rights Campaign in Washington.
Ben Ellerin (2007) is a cantorial student at Hebrew Union College and interns at Congregaton Rodeph Sholom.
David Fliesher (2007) is Fixed Asset Accountant and Cost Analyst for the Kiln at Monsanto.
Julia Franks (2007) is a grant writer for Facing History and Ourselves in Boston and a graduate student at Brandeis Heller school.
Jake Ginsburg (2007) is an associate attorney with Kimmel and Silverman.
Amanda Dudley Goldstein (2007) is Project Coordinator of TORCH (Torah Outreach Resource Center of Houston).
Margaret O’Connor (2007) is on the Institutional Learning Team at Search for Common Ground and research consultant at Afghanistan Public Policy Research Organization.
Dr. Abigail Schachter (2007) is a pediatric resident physician at St. Louis University.
Rachel Schonwald (2007) is Registration Manager for Authentic Israel.
Shana Slutsky (2007) is Associate Producer of "Anderson" at Telepictures.
Sarah Beren (2008) is Ohio/Pittsburgh Area Director for AIPAC.
Lauren Berman (2008) is Associate of Veterans Programs at Hire Heroes USA.
Joel Dinin (2008) is a student at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School.
Jody Gansel (2008) is a graduate student in Education at The Jewish Theological Seminar.
Rachel Harrison (2008) is a cantorial student at Hebrew Union College.
Rachel Kaplan Marks, Jonathan Kleinman, and Deana Sussman (2008) are rabbinic students at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.
Inna Kolesnikova-Shmukler (2008) is Young Leadership Director and the Donor Relations Manager for the Indianapolis Jewish Federation.
Daniel Millner (2008) is a rabbinical student at Yeshivat Choverei Torah.
Shira Nadel (2008) is an Executive Compensation Analyst at Goldman Sachs.
Mallory Saks (2008) is Assistant Director of JCC Resident Camp at Camp Poyntelle Lewis Village.
Rebecca Frazin (2009) is Deputy Political Director at Brad Schneider for Congress.
Nina Loftspring (2009) is a graduate student in Jewish Education at HUC-JIR NY (2011-13).
Jennifer Queen (2009) is a Masters Public Health student at The George Washington University.
Andrew Schwimmer (2009) is Assistant Project Manager at SLG Construction.
Traci Stratford (2009) is Educator and Youth Director at Temple Beth Israel in Jackson, Mississippi; NFTY Southern Regional Advisor; and Summer Education Director at Jacobs Camp.
Emily Berman (2010) is AIPAC Midwest Deputy Political Director.
Brittany Cohen (2010) is Midwest Administrative Assistant to two regional directors at AIPAC in Chicago.
Shelly Farahan (2010) is studying at Touro College to be a Physician’s Assistant.
Eric Goode (2010) is an intern at the U.S. House of Representatives and a faith based team leader at Obama for America.
Jessica Gross (2010) is Honor Source manager, NSCS Careers at the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.
Lauren Jacobson (2010) is the Development Coordinator for the Chicago Jewish Day School.
Sarah-Beth Kirshner (2010) is Admin. Asst. at the Jewish Coalition against Domestic Abuse.-
Marc Silberstein (2010) is Director of Jewish Life at the Frankel Jewish Academy in Detroit.
Mark Swick (2010) is Community Coordinator for the Jewish Studies Program at the College of Charleston.
Jessica Wainer (2010) is rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College.
Aren Wilson-Wright (2010) is a Ph.D. student in Hebrew Studies at the University of Texas.
Avi Zimmerman (2010) is a medical student at the University of Cincinnati.
Hannah Cohen (2011) is a Development Associate for Empowered Women International in Washington, D.C. through Americorps.
Matthew Levitt (2011) is Operations Manager for Ramah Outdoor Adventure.
Allison Shipper (2011) is Head of Outreach at CommunityNEXT, an initiative of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, that aims to attract and retain young Jewish adults through social, cultural, and professional opportunities.
Rachel Silverstein (2011) is a 2nd year rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College.
Lily Tash (2011) the first student to complete the JSP's Jewish Sacred Music curriculum, is a cantorial student at the Academy for Jewish Religion in CA.
Carly Valfer (2011) is a rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College.
Lauren Vandersluis (2011) is a student at John Marshall Law School in Chicago.
Sarah Wilensky (2011) is a student at Columbia University Law School.
