Student Board

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Abbie Vogel, Co-President

Graduation Year: 2021
Majors: History and Political Science
Favorite thing about Hillel: I love the work Hillel does for the surrounding community. Hillel holds many events each year that benefit the Schenectady community. Hillel’s Sandwich Brigade makes hundreds of Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches which are all donated to the people of Schenectady. Charity is a core Jewish value and Hillel at Union promotes that.
Favorite Event at Hillel: My favorite Hillel “event” is the weekly meetings. People share ideas for events, fun things happening on campus, and personal endeavors with the group. While it is a weekly club meeting, we have fun and have gotten to know each other well. I am grateful for this community I have found at Union.
Email: vogela@union.edu

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Emese Dunn, Secretary and Israel Chair

Graduation Year: 2020
Majors: Biology and German
 
Hi there, I’m Emese (pronounced: EH meh sheh--it’s Hungarian) and I’m a junior here. I grew up in a very rural area (on a farm) without a strong Jewish community or outlet for my spirituality, so I am grateful to have found Union’s Hillel which has provided me with both and much more. Hillel at Union is a place of camaraderie, good food, and an excellent space to study/nap. I’ve served on the board of Hillel as secretary for the past few years and I’m looking forward to bringing more Israeli culture and education to campus as the Israel Chair. On campus, you can find me studying in Hillel, at the hockey rink cheering on our hockey team with Hannah Epstein, or busy with my Army ROTC responsibilities. Off campus, you can find me with my Great Pyrenees Kislany (pronounced: Keeshlahn--also Hungarian), my Icelandic horses, or working with my local veterinarian. 

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions, or even just want to chat about Union.
Email: dunne@union.edu

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Hannah Epstein, Treasurer and Ruach/Ritual Chair

Graduation Year: 2022
Major(s): Psychology and Economics
Minor(s): Chinese (maybe)
 
Hi! I’m Hannah, a first-year here at Union. I am originally from Westchester, NY, but now live in Connecticut. Being Jewish is a huge part of my life and I love celebrating holidays, eating (kosher) Jewish foods, and schmoozing. I have been to Israel twice, once with my family and again on the Union/Dartmouth Birthright trip last December. I was involved with Young Judaea for many years as a camper at Sprout Lake and Tel Yehudah, as well as a regional board member in high school; I was also part of CVR BBYO and Hanefesh USY for a little while. At Union, I am also a tour guide, member of the U-Program board (late-night weekend events), mentor at COCOA House, and writer for the Dutch Oven, Union’s satirical publication. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about what it’s like to be left-handed in a right handed world, ride a unicycle, or what Jewish life is like on campus!
Email: epsteinh@union.edu

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Ellie Paris, Social Justice Coordinator

Major: Political Science
Minors: American Studies and Anthropology
Favorite Thing about Hillel: Community, Shabbat Dinners, and Social justice!
Favorite Event from Hillel: Social Justice Seder
Email: parise@union.edu

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Justin Cohen, Vice President

Graduation Year: 2020
Majors: Economics and Organizing Theme (Data Analytics)
Minor: Psychology
Favorite Thing about Hillel: The atmosphere, it is relaxing and comfortable like a home away from home. Bonnie is also teaching me how to cook in the kosher kitchen which is a fun experience!
Favorite Event at Hillel: Shabbat dinners! I get to try my hand at cooking, and I like how every week has a theme and I get time to reconnect with friends I may not have seen during a busy week of school.
Email: Feel free to reach out to me at cohenj3@union.edu 

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Ethan Lampert, Tech Chair

Graduation Year: 2022
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Minor: Mathematics
Favorite Thing about Hillel: being able to relax after a long week and have some home-cooked food
Favorite Event from Hillel: the Everest Lounge Discussion - lots of good food and discussions
Email: lamperte@union.edu

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Jacquelynn Burmester, Co-President & Kosher Chair

     Graduation Year: 2020
     Majors: German and Psychology
​     Favorite Thing about Hillel: The family that we create away from
     home. Hillel as is an amazing support system built in for one other,
     and it goes beyond our four years at Union and simply the students
     who attend. We join a larger community of people who love being
     affiliated with Judaism’s culture, practices, and ultimately our tribe. 
     Favorite Event from Hillel: Shabbat Dinners – specifically when we
    spend the afternoon cooking together, bonding over kitchen talk,
    Israeli music provided by our lovely Ruach Chair. There is something
    very satisfying about spending three hours making “grown-up mud
    pies,” having fed 20 people, and then being able to sit down and enjoy
                                                                       the food with your peers after a long week. Shabbat dinners are what I
                                                                       look forward to every week, what I base my schedule around, and
                                                                       what’s behind my weird google searches when I look up “vegetarian,
                                                                       gluten free, kosher cooking inspiration/hacks.”
                                                                      Email: burmestj@union.edu

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