| Spotlight on Students DFI welcomes our incoming students. They are all as passionate and excited about the programs beginning this August as our current cohort. They represent a wide variety of communities, experiences, and career goals. However, what links them is that they want to make the Jewish community of the future a better place; and they know that they will receive the professional development at DFI to make sure they are qualified for wherever their Jewish communal career leads them. Each year DFI has a student retreat. It is to begin the professional development that will be integrated into their formal programs. At the retreat, there are opportunities for learning from community professionals, socializing, and creating the bonds that our students have for the rest of their professional lives. Here are brief biographies of our new students. Josh Ackman graduated from the University of Central Florida. He was very active in Hillel and AEPi while majoring in Exploring Humanities & Letters. His goal is to educate people about the beauty of Judaism. His future career plans include teaching at the college level. He is enrolled in the MAJCS and MAJE degree programs at BHU. Amy Goldenberg graduated from the University of Maryland where she majored in Family Studies. She has worked with the elderly, and is particularly interested in furthering her goals of helping families in need as a social worker in the Jewish community. She is enrolled in the MAJCS and MSW degree programs. Megan Goldsmith graduated from Towson University. After graduation she was a JCSC Hillel Fellow at the University of Georgia. As a high school student, she knew that she would make Jewish communal work her career goal. She is particularly interested in developing skills in fundraising and grant writing. She is a Friedman Fellowship Recipient. She is enrolled in the MAJCS and MSW degree programs. Her first year internship will be at Jewish Family Services (JFS). Rebekah Levy graduated from the University of Connecticut, and has worked in the department of Career Services at Remington College. Her goal is to be a change agent in the lives of Jewish youth and families. She has worked in several synagogues in administration and in youth programming. She was a JCSC Hillel Fellow at the University of Rochester and is receiving the Friedman Fellowship. She is enrolled in the MAJCS and MSW degree programs. Her first year internship will be at Jewish Big Brothers and Big Sister League. Sarah Schiffres graduated from Salisbury University with a degree in Psychology. She is looking forward to DFI giving her the tools to create positive social change within the Jewish community. She helped to establish a Jewish Student Association at Salisbury University. Sarah has had work experience as an addictions counselor in Worchester County, MD, and will continue to grow her social work skills. She is enrolled in the MAJCS and MSW degree programs. Her first year internship will be at Sinai Hospital. Meghann Colton Schwartz graduated from Touro College. She has worked as a youth advisor for different age levels. She has led several teen trips to Prague, Poland and Israel. She is particularly interested in helping to solve some of the problem’s facing the Jewish community today. Growing up in small communities, Megan feels that her parents were instrumental in teaching her the values that have led her to pursue Jewish communal service. She will be pursuing a MAJCS and a certificate in Non-Profit Management from Johns Hopkins University. Rachel Waxberg graduated from Rollins College. She majored in Judaic Studies and during that time participated in Birthright Israel. She was active in student peer counseling, Hillel, and Seeds for Peace organizations. She has been a JCSC Fellow at the University of Cincinnati, where her goals were outreach to the uninvolved students and helping students interested in Israel. She will be pursuing a MAJCS and a certificate in Non-Profit Management from Johns Hopkins University.MAZEL TOV!!!! Engagement: Rachel Wisdom and Jeff Vidal are engaged to be married. Jonathan Strausberg, recent DFI graduate of ’06, is engaged to Cheryl Fox. Marriage Meghann Colton Schwartz married Ben Schwartz on June 11, 2006 |