
Andrew Getraer
Executive Director
email: Andrew@rutgershillel.org

Rabbi Esther Reed
Senior Associate Director
Rabbi Esther Reed grew up in East Brunswick, NJ. A graduate of Bryn Mawr College, she received both her master’s degree in Jewish Women’s Studies and Rabbinic Ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. She is a Conservative rabbi and lives in Highland Park with her husband, Mordy Schwartz, and three sons: Isaac, Sammy and Jonah.
email: RabbiReed@rutgershillel.org

Rabbi Avi Schwartz
OU-JLIC Educator
Rav Avi Schwartz was born in Queens, but grew up in Sharon, MA, and West Orange, NJ. He is an alumnus of Yeshiva University’s Yeshiva College, Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, and Wurzweiler School of Social Work. After working for Bnei Akiva and NCSY for many years, he studied in RIETS’ Gruss Institute in Jerusalem for three years. During the week, Rav Avi is a social worker, providing mental health support for youth, adolescents, and their families.
Rav Avi lives in Teaneck, NJ with Sara and their two kids, Noam (3) and Kiki (1). They are all devout New England Patriots fans.
email: RavAvi@rutgershillel.org

Sara Schwartz
OU-JLIC Educator
Sara Schwartz grew up on Long Island and currently lives in Teaneck, NJ. She holds a BA in psychology from Queens College and an MBA from Bar Ilan University.
In addition to her position as an OU-JLIC Educator, Sara also works for New Jersey NCSY. She is married to Rav Avi and they have two adorable children.
email: SaraS@rutgershillel.org

Adva Ripple Solomon
Jewish Agency Israel Fellow
email: adva@RutgersHillel.org

Ryan Siegel
IACT Coordinator for Birthright Israel
email: ryan@rutgershillel.org

Trent Works
Springboard Innovation Fellow
Trent is originally from Newark, Delaware and a graduate of the University of Delaware with a degree in History. As an undergraduate student he served as a student leader at the University of Delaware Hillel. In the future, Trent plans on attending rabbinical school as well as traveling to as many art museums as possible.
email: trent@rutgershillel.org

Dana Simons, MA, NCC, LPC
CAPS Clinician and a Community Based Counselor
Dana grew up in Manalapan, NJ. She received her Master’s degree from TCNJ and is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She has experience working in college counseling centers and partial hospital programs, and teaching as an adjunct professor. Dana is thrilled to be working with Rutgers Hillel through her position with Rutgers CAPS in her role as a Community Based Counselor. Dana enjoys spending time with family and friends, working on her photography, playing instruments, and traveling.
email: dana.simons@echo.rutgers.edu

Barbara Josephs Cohen
Senior Development Officer
email: BarbaraC@rutgershillel.org

Rachel Podhorcer
Office Administrator
email: rachel@rutgershillel.org

Madlenne Lalush
Facility Manager
email: madlenne@rutgershillel.org