Hillel at VCU gears up for an exciting year ahead
Originally published by The Reflector.
While campus may be quiet during the summer months, the energy behind the scenes at Hillel at VCU is anything but. With eyes on a vibrant fall semester, both student leaders and board members are hard at work laying the foundation for a year full of connection, community, and growth.
Student Board Meeting: The last student board meeting for the semester at the Hillel House. (From left) Mara Lobley, Itai Benjamin, Bella Vanderborg, Dylan Cohen, and Sarah Martin.
Before heading into summer break, Hillel’s student board wrapped up the semester with a final meeting that combined team-building, creativity, and strategic planning. The group focused on how to welcome new students in the fall and continue growing the presence of VCU’s newly revitalized Hillel community.
Board Retreat: Hillel at VCU’s board retreat at the Biegler’s home - (From left) Steve Biegler, John Jay Schwartz, Michal Coffey, Melanie Fine, Graham Sheridan, Russ Finer, Kevin Fine.
Board Retreat Team Building: Board members compete to build a spaghetti tower while drawing parallels to their work rebuilding the Hillel at VCU. (From left) Steve Biegler, John Jay Schwartz, Michal Coffey, Jim Weinberg
Meanwhile, the Board of Directors gathered in early June for a retreat hosted by Steve and Claudia Biegler. They were joined virtually by Ronit Sherwin of Hillel International, who helped guide the board through an enriching session on the responsibilities and impact of nonprofit leadership. The retreat marked a major step in setting a clear vision for future committee success.
“It’s so inspiring to witness the strong support from our board and community members,” shared Sheri Rodman, Executive Director of Hillel at VCU. “They’re united by a shared vision of a thriving, inclusive Hillel — the only non-denominational, egalitarian Jewish organization on campus, truly celebrating all kinds of Jewish.”
Looking ahead, Hillel staff are busy preparing engaging programming for the upcoming academic year and are already welcoming students visiting VCU for orientation. One of the most exciting developments? The launch of a brand-new website designed to better connect with students, families, alumni, and friends.
We’d Love to Hear from You! Are you a VCU Hillel alum? A proud parent? Someone with a connection to Jewish life at VCU? We’d love to connect and learn more about your story — and how we can continue to support and serve Jewish students, their friends, and allies. Reach out to Executive Director Sheri Rodman at sheri@hillelatvcu.org.
