Mazel Tov to our Leaders!
Spertus Institute wishes a hearty Mazel Tov to our inaugural cohort of the Certificate in Synagogue Executive Leadership (CSEL), a partnership between Spertus Institute and the National Association for Temple Administration (NATA).
Meet the Leaders of Cohort 1
Cohort 1 students’ contributions to their synagogues and the broader Jewish community exemplify the program’s mission to inspire and support effective, dynamic congregational leadership.
Bryan Bierman of Westport, CT
Executive Director, Temple Israel Westport
Amber Brumbaugh of St. Paul, MN
Director of Operations, Temple of Aaron
Casey Cole of Houston, TX
Executive Director, Congregation Beth Israel
Jenn Daley of New Orleans, LA
Executive Director, Temple Sinai – New Orleans
Shelly Dresdner of Atlanta, GA
Associate Executive Director, Temple Sinai
Rachel Ellis of West Bloomfield Township, MI
Executive Director, Temple Beth El
DeNae Harmon of Havre de Grace, MD
Executive Director, Temple Adas Shalom
Jocelyn Inglis of Bergenfield, NJ
Executive Director, Temple Sinai of Bergen County
Lisa Kaplan of Glencoe, IL
Chief Operating Officer, Am Shalom
Rachel Lang of Rockville, MD
Executive Director, Beth Sholom Congregation and Talmud Torah
Sean Moss of Tucson, AZ
Executive Director, Kol Ami Synagogue – Tucson
Cori Neidenberg of St. Louis, MO
Executive Director, United Hebrew Congregation
Becky Oliver of Newton, MA
Executive Director, Temple Beth Avodah
Jeremy Ragent of Los Altos Hills, CA
Executive Director, Congregation Beth Am
Hilary Rosen of Santa Ana, CA
Director of Operations, Temple Beth Sholom
Deborah Sheldon of Park City, UT
Executive Director, Temple Har Shalom
Osnat Strulov-Shlain of Chicago, IL
Executive Director, KAM Isaiah Israel
Mark Swick of Charleston, SC
Executive Director, Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim
Damien Timms of Overland Park, KS
Executive Director, Congregation Beth Torah
Kate Tucker Sicher of St. Paul, MN
Executive Director, Mount Zion Temple
Hilary Waldenberg of Raleigh, NC
Executive Director, Temple Beth Or
Shanda Witkin of San Jose, CA
Executive Director, Congregation Shir Hadash
We are proud to add these CSEL students to the Spertus community of changemakers and look forward to their continued contributions.
Transformative Learning
Through a first-of-its-kind initiative, these executives adopted new leadership practices and built lasting relationships with peers from across North America. CSEL students gained particular skills and tools tailored explicitly for synagogue executives, and a supportive peer network of synagogue leaders with opportunities to leverage each other’s talents, resources, and support.
To learn more about this program: Certificate in Synagogue Executive Leadership – Spertus Institute.