Meet the Staff
Julia Barron, Director of Engagement and Leadership
Julia (she/her), a Massachusetts native, joined our Hillel Council team as their first Springboard Innovation Fellow in July 2021. Now, as our Director of Engagement and Leadership, she supervises our student engagement strategy across our campuses, mentors our student leaders, and works to organize regional programming opportunities, including collaborations with other Jewish organizations and Hillels in the area. In addition, she also advises Bentley University Hillel and loves working closely with the students there.
Julia spent four amazing years in New Orleans at Tulane University, majoring in Spanish with minors in Latin American Studies and Teaching, Learning and Training. She loves living in Boston and can most often be seen taking long walks around the city or runs around the city, checking out new restaurants, and pointing out every dog she sees.
Miriam Berkowitz Blue, Executive Director
Miriam Berkowitz Blue (she/her) became Hillel Council’s first female Executive Director in 2021. She comes to this role after serving as Assistant Director since 2016 and having been with the organization since 2012. In her various portfolios within Hillel Council, Miriam has previously served as Hillel Director at Simmons University (2012-2021), Emerson College (2014-2016), and Suffolk University (2012-2016), in addition to managing campus partnerships and supervising program staff.
Before joining Hillel Council, Miriam worked at various Jewish educational non-profits in Florida and Massachusetts, and has 20+ years of professional experience in the Jewish non-profit arena. She received her B.A. from Wellesley College in Political Science, a Master's of Jewish Education (MJEd) as a Legacy Heritage Fellow at Hebrew College, and has a graduate certificate from Cornell University in Financial Success for Nonprofits.
Miriam is an active volunteer in her local community, where she serves on the Board of Directors at both Mayyim Hayyim and Epstein Hillel School. An avid reader and fan of any and all Hallmark movies, Miriam lives in Lynnfield, Massachusetts with her spouse, Phil, and two children, Talia and Shalev.
Haddie Daner, Development & Campus Outreach Coordinator
Haddie is outgoing, compassionate, and an adventure seeker who loves to connect with any and everyone wherever she goes. She was born in China and was raised in traditional Jewish family on the central coast of California. Haddie went to Sonoma State University, where she majored in Business Administration with a minor in Jewish Studies. Haddie was very active in Sonoma’s Hillel and served as vice president for 1 year and president for 2 years. During her senior year winter break 2022-2023, Haddie participated as a Hasbara Fellow and traveled to Israel on a 2 week geo-political trip in Israel. When arriving back in the U.S. Haddie realized she wanted to spend more time in Israel and after graduation, decided to attend the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and pursue her masters in Nonprofit Management and Leadership. Haddie lived in Israel for 7 months and enjoyed assimilating with Israeli culture and making friends from around the world at the Rothberg International School. Haddie is passionate about Tikkun Olam and Hillel’s mission, of “enriching the lives of Jewish students so that they may enrich the Jewish people and the world”. Haddie enjoys dancing, photography/videography, art, nature, music, traveling, and celebrating Jewish holidays.
MATT HOFFMAN, Director of Immersive Experiences
Matt is an educator with 14 years of experience working in primary and higher educational spaces, including a visual arts Modern Israel & Jewish Peoplehood class to Temple Sinai 6th graders in Brookline, Massachusetts. He holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. He has been organizing the Boston Onward Israel professional internship program since 2012, which gives students the opportunity to gain career experience at an Israeli company or non-profit in the field of their choice. Interns are hosted in all of Israel's three major cities: Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Haifa. He also coordinates the Haifa Alternative Spring Break Mission where students from Boston-area college campuses volunteer at meaningful sites in Israel's largest port city.
Amichai Levy, SpringBoard Fellow
Amichai (he/they), born and raised in Chesapeake, Virginia, received an undergraduate degree in French and minors in Judaic Studies and Korean Studies from George Mason University in 2024. While in college, he was actively involved in Mason Hillel, serving as Vice President, Engagement Intern, and Program Coordinator. Throughout his time at school, Amichai came to realize through his personal experiences and experiences as a student leader the joy building Jewish community brings them and the value involvement in Jewish life brings to the lives of college students. Amichai is beyond excited to be joining the HCNE team to work with the students at Suffolk University as the Springboard Ezra Jewish Education Fellow. In their free time, Amichai enjoys traveling, biking, reading, watching movies, language learning, davening, and hosting Shabbat meals (among other things).
Shani Rosenzweig, Director of Jewish Student Life at Emerson College
A Maryland Native, Shani grew up deeply embedded in the Jewish community where she has fond memories of Shabbat and walking all around town with her friends. She moved to Israel in high school with her family and came back shortly after graduation. She dedicates her position in Hillel as a direct inspiration from the work in Jewish education that her parents have been involved in her whole life. After getting married in 2023, Shani and her husband moved to the Boston area and she is excited to work with students on the Emerson Campus and beyond to connect them to their Judaism by ways of Shabbat meals, laughter, and enthralling conversation. Shani has a bachelor's degree in Sociology and Anthropology with a concentration in criminal justice from Towson University. When she is not on campus, she can be found traveling the New England area, spending time in nature, and snuggling with her two kittens, Freddie and Leo.
Celine Sanborn, Communications Manager at HCNE and Director of Jewish Student Life at Simmons University
Originally from the North Shore of Massachusetts, Celine received her Bachelor’s of Art in Communications from Simmons College (now University) in 2016. As an undergraduate student, she spent most of her free time at Simmons’s Hillel, where she served as the Communications Chair, and on air at Simmons College Radio: The Shark, where she served as the Communications Director. After many years of working in development and fundraising in the healthcare sector, Celine is thrilled to return to Hillel, this time as the Communications Manager at HCNE and Director of Jewish Student Life at her alma mater, Simmons University. While not in the Hillel offices, you can find her baking a new dessert or bread recipe, hanging out with her puppy Maple, or reading a good book.
Hannah Taylor, Director of Jewish Life at Boston College and Curry College
Hannah (she/her) is a Jewish Educator and problem solver looking to develop leaders and create meaningful, accessible, and relevant experiences for members of the Jewish community. A Boston-area native, Hannah studied at Brandeis University, where she majored in Judaic Studies and Education Studies. Following her undergraduate degree, Hannah moved to South Africa to work as the youth and music fellow at Temple Israel of Cape Town, and with Netzer, their youth movement. Hannah graduated in 2023 with a dual masters degree from Hebrew Union College in Jewish Nonprofit Management, and from the University of Southern California with a masters in public administration. Hannah is also a fellow with the Nachshon Project. Hannah is excited to help students create Jewish programming on campus, celebrate Shabbat, and holidays throughout the year. Hannah enjoys playing guitar, singing, playing chess, and taking walks around her neighborhood.
Jared Waters, Director of Israel Engagement & IACT Coordinator
Originally from New York, Jared is passionate about fostering a deeper connection to Israel and Jewish identity among college students. He joins the Hillel Council of New England team as the Director of Israel Engagement and IACT Coordinator after two impactful years as the IACT at Clark University Hillel. Jared is a graduate from Purchase College, State University of New York, where he was actively involved in Hillel, serving as Vice President and Treasurer. Following his time at Purchase College, he participated in the Masa Israel Teaching Fellows program, teaching English to elementary school children in Bat Yam. After completing the Masa program, Jared made Aliyah to Israel, further deepening his connection to the country. Outside of his professional life, Jared enjoys playing and listening to music, traveling, and training for Ironman Triathlons. His diverse interests and experiences contribute to his dynamic approach to engaging students and fostering a strong connection to Israel and Jewish identity.
Maple, Hillel Dog
Maple is Celine’s one year old puppy. Maple has been spreading joy and wagging her tail across HCNE campuses to visit students; making every day brighter for our Hillel family. From comforting students to joining in on Shabbat celebrations, she brings a little extra pawsitivity wherever she goes. Are you a student and want to plan a puppy date with Maple? Email Celine at csanborn@hillelcouncil.org!