Spertus Institute Welcomes New Trustees: Jared Isaacson, Rachel Stern, and Scott Braswell
Spertus Institute is thrilled to welcome three new members to its Board of Trustees. Each brings deep expertise in Jewish communal leadership and a strong commitment to advancing Jewish learning and professional development.
Jared Isaacson, Rachel Stern, and Scott Braswell join Spertus at a time of continued growth and innovation. As the Institute expands its impact through graduate programs, professional development initiatives, and thought leadership, these new trustees will help shape the future of Jewish learning and leadership.
“Spertus is fortunate to welcome such dedicated new trustees who each are well respected Jewish professional leaders that prioritize ongoing professional enrichment and Jewish learning for themselves and their staff teams,” says Dr. Dean P. Bell, Spertus President and CEO. “We are delighted to welcome Jared, Rachel, and Scott to the board, and we look forward to the expertise and vision they bring.”
Jared Isaacson
Jared Isaacson brings decades of leadership experience to Spertus Institute, cultivated through roles in campus engagement, Federation work, and national initiatives.
“I am truly excited to serve on the board of the Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership, an institution that has helped shape my academic, professional, and personal journey,” says Isaacson. “It is both an honor and a full-circle moment. Over the years, my connection as part of the Executive MA in Jewish Professional Studies, my participation in the inaugural Leadership Certificate in Combating Antisemitism for Professionals, and my attendance at various seminars and Critical Conversations programs have all reinforced and deepened my identity and values. I’m excited to give back by helping support and advocate for Spertus, to help guide the next generation of students through similarly transformative experiences.”
Isaacson currently serves as Executive Director of the Cleveland Hillel Foundation, supporting students across 11 campuses in the Cleveland and Oberlin communities. His career has been centered on strengthening the effectiveness and reach of social-profit organizations within the Jewish world.
Originally from Montreal, Isaacson has served in leadership roles at Jewish Federations in Phoenix, Toronto, and Ottawa, focusing on fundraising, community building, and strategic engagement. He also led Hillel initiatives as Director at the University of Western Ontario and later as National Director of Hillel Canada.
He holds a Bachelor of Social Work from McGill University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Toronto, where he focused on Jewish communal leadership as a recipient of The Jewish Federations of North America’s FEREP scholarship. He later earned his Executive MA in Jewish Professional Studies and completed the Leadership Certificate in Combating Antisemitism from Spertus Institute in Chicago.
Rachel Stern
Rachel Stern brings decades of experience in strategy, engagement, and professional development to Spertus Institute, along with a deep passion for Jewish education and lifelong learning.
“I have been a Spertus ‘superfan’ since seeing the amazing impact the school has had on numerous Jewish professionals in Austin—including my own team members and now even my own son,” Stern says. “I am overwhelmingly impressed by the quality of the education and the realization of the needs of today’s Jewish professionals. I’m honored to give back to an institution of which I feel such gratitude towards.”
Stern currently serves as Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy and Impact Officer for Shalom Austin. Over the past 25 years, she has held influential roles across the Jewish nonprofit sector, including work with Federations, synagogues, and seminaries. She served for more than 13 years as the first full-time Director of Education for the Goldring Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life and later became the Inaugural Director of the Rapoport Center and Chief Learning and Engagement Officer at Shalom Austin.
Stern holds master’s degrees in Jewish education and Jewish Non-Profit Management from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion.
Scott Braswell
Scott Braswell brings more than two decades of leadership experience in Jewish communal organizations to Spertus Institute.
“As an alumnus and a Jewish professional, I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to contribute to this esteemed institution’s continued growth and success as a new board member,” says Braswell. “Spertus has significantly shaped my professional journey, and I am eager to give back to the community that has given me so much. I look forward to working with my fellow board members to advance Spertus’s mission and ensure it continues to prepare the next generation of Jewish leaders.”
Braswell currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Merage Jewish Community Center in Orange County, California. Throughout his career, he has held key leadership roles at Jewish institutions across the country, including the Barshop JCC in San Antonio, the Aaron Family JCC in Dallas, and the URJ Greene Family Camp.
Braswell earned a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Arts in Jewish Professional Studies from Spertus Institute. He also holds a Certificate in Jewish Education with a specialization in Adolescents and Emerging Adults from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion and was a member of the inaugural cohort of the Spertus Leadership Certificate in Combating Antisemitism.
About Spertus Institute
Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership equips individuals and organizations with the tools to lead, learn, and serve in the Jewish community and beyond.
As an accredited institute of higher education, at its core are advanced degree and certificate programs through which students engage with Jewish ideas in the service of their personal and professional advancement.
These offerings are complemented by programs in an array of formats that provide avenues for people of all backgrounds and denominations to experience Jewish learning.