Jenn came to Chicago from New York. She grew up in Westchester, before attending SUNY Albany to study theatre.  With a BFA in Theatre Technology and then an MFA from Rutgers University, Jenn worked professionally as a stage manager across the country and on Broadway.  She spent a year living in London as the study abroad director for Rutgers Conservatory at Shakespeare Globe before moving with her husband to Chicago, where she was the Associate Production Manager at the Goodman Theatre.  After starting her family, Jenn pivoted to serve the Jewish community, also receiving a Masters in Jewish Educational Leadership. Jenn lives in Oak Park along with her three children (Abbie, Ben, and Noah) and her husband Dan and looks forward to connecting with students.

​

Contact Jenn about getting connected and involved with Jewish life on campus. 

Shahar joined the University of Chicago Hillel team in 2024 as the Jewish Agency Israel Fellow. Shahar graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Information Systems Engineering while working as a Project Management Officer at Elbit Systems. During her time there, she enhanced her project management skills and collaborated with diverse teams to achieve shared goals.

As a student, Shahar volunteered with the "Bustan Thom" association, which promotes sustainability and ecological values. She also participated in the ConnecTech program, on behalf of Hillel Israel and the Technion. This program connects Jewish students from MIT with Technion students based on shared academic fields. Her experience there inspired her to become involved in the international Jewish community. Shahar can't wait to connect with the students and engage with the community.​

​

Contact Shahar about opportunities to learn more about Israel and Jewish life on campus and abroad

Ayala was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, and later moved to Elon, North Carolina, to attend Elon University. She graduated in 2022 with a B.A. in Human Service Studies and minors in Psychology and Jewish Studies. When she arrived at Elon, Ayala found her place at Hillel, quickly becoming an integral part of the Hillel community. During her four years at Elon, Ayala served on the board, initially as Shabbat Chair and later as Vice President of Community Development. Her journey in Jewish education started early, attending Jewish Day School and deepening her roots at Ramah Darom and at Alexander Muss High School in Israel. These experiences instilled in her a profound connection to her Jewish heritage and a passion for creating lasting impacts within the Jewish community. Ayala enjoys fashion, music, exercise, and exploring new cultures through travel. Now excited to embark on her role as the Springboard Fellow at UChicago, Ayala is thrilled to bring her boundless enthusiasm, dedication, and love for connecting with others to her new endeavor!

​

Contact Ayala to discuss engagement opportunities and Jewish life on campus

Eva Rosenthal earned her bachelor's degree in Religious Studies from Denison University, where she was actively involved in the Hillel chapter, serving as both interfaith liaison and president. After graduation, Eva spent a year teaching high school English in the Republic of Georgia, followed by a year working as a legal assistant in Cincinnati. She then pursued a master's degree in Religious Studies from Utrecht University while working as a college counselor. Eva is passionate about pedagogy and mentorship, particularly in building meaningful relationships with students. In her free time, she enjoys fostering cats, training for half marathons, cooking, and traveling to visit friends.

​

Contact Eva to discuss engagement opportunities and Jewish life on campus

Kevin joined the Hillel team in July, 2024 after nearly a decade as a French, English, and Art History teacher. Originally from sunny southern California, he completed his BA and MA degrees at the University of Utah where he enjoyed skiing, hiking, and camping along with serving as the Chair of the Graduate Student Association and on the board of the LGBT+ Resource Center. In undergrad, Kevin studied abroad in Grenoble, France and loved being immersed in the French language. After graduate school, he was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship and had the privilege of teaching in Athens, Greece for a year. He is excited to build community among graduate students and faculty from across campus and in the broader Jewish community in Chicago. Kevin lives with his husband, Nick, in South Loop with their two dogs, Toby and Nora.

​

Contact Kevin about opportunities to connect with graduate students and the faculty community

Hillel is proud to partner with the Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus to bring robust Jewish learning to University of Chicago students from across the spectrum of observance. ​

​

Whether you’re a college student, recent graduate, or young professional, JLIC at Hillel is here to support you on your journey of Jewish discovery and development.