JCLP Alumni

Kari Alterman is the founder of Good Name Advisors, where she helps individuals and families advance their philanthropic dreams and preserve their good name through meaningful charitable giving. She also partners with and leads giving circles, designing programs that elevate communal giving through education, shared experience, and collective responsibility.

Kari spent nearly a decade at the William Davidson Foundation, where she led the Foundation’s Jewish giving portfolio for eight years before becoming its Director of External Affairs and a Senior Advisor. Prior to joining the Foundation in 2015, she served as Detroit Regional Director for the American Jewish Committee, and spent 11 years with the Jewish Federation of Detroit, concluding her tenure as Leadership Development Director.

A proud graduate of the University of Michigan, Kari holds a B.A. in History, an M.S.W., and a Certificate in Jewish Communal Service. She is a 21/64 Certified Philanthropic Advisor and Certified Impact Philanthropic Advisor through Daylight. In her active volunteer life, Kari serves on the boards of Clover Hill Park Cemetery, OneTable (as board secretary), the Zekelman Holocaust Center (where she is also a second-generation speaker), Boundless, The Jewish Fund, and the Jewish Federation of Detroit. She is a founding member and former executive committee member of the Interfaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit, and a past board member of JPRO.

Debby Barton Grant is the Executive Director of the Jewish Culture Center at Indiana University, where she works to strengthen vibrant Jewish life on campus and foster meaningful student engagement. She brings more than three decades of executive leadership experience, including serving as Associate Vice President of LiveSecure at the Jewish Federations of North America and as CEO of Jewish Federations in South Bend and Indianapolis, Indiana. Debby holds a Master degree in Social Work and Jewish Communal Leadership from the University of Michigan and a B.A. in Religious Studies from Indiana University. She is passionate about mentoring future leaders and cultivating joyful, resilient Jewish community.

Meredith Berlin grew up in Huntington Woods, Michigan, with the Detroit Jewish community serving as a constant and meaningful thread throughout her life and her family’s history. From an early age, she was immersed in Jewish values, communal responsibility, and leadership, experiences that have shaped both her personal identity and professional work.

Meredith graduated from Western Michigan University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Health Services. She later earned her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Michigan, specializing in School Social Work, where she also participated in the Jewish Communal Leadership Program. During graduate school, Meredith completed a field placement with Jewish Family Services in the Family Support Services department. Professionally, Meredith is a school social worker at Costello Elementary School in the Troy School District. She currently serves on the general board of NEXTGen Detroit and remains deeply committed to strengthening Jewish community and leadership in Detroit.

Megan has devoted her career to creating and nurturing Jewish communities around North America. Before she was hired as Operations Manager at Upstart, where she currently manages projects, grants, and events, Megan served as the Program Manager for the Jewish Communal Leadership Program at the University of Michigan School of Social Work, supporting JCLP students and managing logistics, strategy, and recruitment. Prior to her work at JCLP, Megan spent three years at Moishe House, beginning as a Community Manager, supporting the work of volunteer community builders, and then as an Associate Director, overseeing departmental processes and systems and supervising a team of community engagement professionals. Megan began her full-time career as the Associate Regional Director at BBYO in the DC area, developing Jewish teen leaders and cultivating local chapters. Megan holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and a Master’s in Social Work with a Certificate in Jewish Communal Leadership from the University of Michigan.

Adina is a Senior Business Program Manager at Rocket Companies in Detroit, where she specializes in talent management and global mobility. She earned her MSW from the University of Michigan with concentrations in community organization and management of human services, along with a certificate in Jewish communal leadership from the Drachler Program (2004). Prior to joining Rocket, she held positions within the Jewish non-profit sector, including the Jewish Federation of Metro Detroit, JARC, the JDC in Jerusalem, and the JCC of Metro Detroit.

In her current role, Adina partners with executive-level candidates, new hires, and senior leadership to deliver comprehensive global mobility services—including US domestic relocations, cross-border transfers, international repatriations, temporary assignments, corporate housing, and other talent travel solutions. She is committed to supporting team members through life and career transitions while building strong teams and systems.

Ali Duhan is the Senior Talent Development Specialist  in the Mandel Center for Leadership Excellence at JFNA. She comes to JFNA after serving as a frontline fundraiser at The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore for several years. Ali also previously worked at The Institute of Southern Jewish Life in Jackson, Mississippi. She has a  Masters’ degrees in Social Work with a certificate in Jewish Communal Leadership from the University of Michigan and received her B.A. in Sociology with a focus in American Sign Language/Deaf Studies from McDaniel College. Ali is a member of Cohort I of JFNA's Executive Accelerator Program.

Natalie Fenwick grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah where she was very involved in the small Jewish Community. She attended Brandeis University and graduated in 2021. After graduating with a BA in Sociology, Natalie worked at Big Sister Association of Greater Boston as a Match Support Specialist and Program Manager. She is excited to be in a new part of the country for grad school. Natalie is in her second year of the MSW program and pursuing the IP path. She hopes to find a career that involves sexual health and sex education. Natalie currently has a part time job at SAPAC (Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center) on campus and is learning a lot. In her free time Natalie enjoys reading, thrifting, and spending time outside!

As Alumni Director, Lauren provides mentorship, career services, learning, and networking to a 1,700+ person alumni community of Jewish changemakers. She attended Appalachian State University undergrad and received her MSW from the University of Michigan's Jewish Communal Leadership Program. She lives in Durham, North Carolina and in her free time can be found building rad southern Jewish community, trying new crafts, watching movies, and taking on overly ambitious baking projects.

Nicole works in informal education and social work. In her capacity as a social worker she supports older adults and their families facing emotional, financial and practical challenges. Her work focuses on resilience, dignity and strengthening family and community systems.

Nicole is also a licensed Israeli tour guide who brings the rich tapestry of Jerusalem's history to life. Her tours enable visitors to appreciate the beauty and diversity of Jerusalem and its significance to Jews, Christians and Muslims. Nicole uses her social work skills to foster an understanding and appreciation of the unique spiritual, cultural, historic and political complexity of Jerusalem.

Haviva R. Greenbaum, LCSW, LMSW studied psychology at Lander College for Women, Touro University and earned her social work degree from University of Michigan School of Social Work with a certificate in Jewish Communal Leadership. She focused her studies on interpersonal practice, community and social systems. Haviva worked at Jewish Family Service of Metro Detroit for several years upon graduating as a case manager, clinical therapist, supervisor, and later became the Director of Family Support Services. She then moved to the Los Angeles area and worked at Valley Torah High School providing college guidance to students. Haviva is now a Support Program Coordinator at Sharsheret providing services to individuals diagnosed with or at high risk for breast or ovarian cancer in Los Angeles, California.

Josh Kanter serves as the Senior Director of Leadership Engagement at Hillel International, overseeing board engagement, leadership pipeline, and governance portfolios. Passionate about building new and innovative pathways to Jewish identity and community, Josh most recently served as the Director of Partnerships and Marketing at Reboot where he was responsible for maximizing the impact of Reboot’s creative projects and productions. He has previously worked at UJA-Federation of New York, American Jewish World Service, and the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. He a past co-chair of JPRO New York. Originally from the Detroit suburbs, he holds an MSW in Jewish Communal Leadership from the University of Michigan School of Social Work. Josh lives in South Orange, NJ, with his wife, Allie, and two adorable children - Zoe and Ezra.

Julia Kessler-Hollar, LMSW, Senior Program Officer of Supportive Services, has been at DOROT since April 2023. Prior to DOROT, she was the Senior Director of Crisis Intervention with the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty in NYC. Before her move to NYC, Julia worked for Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County in Ann Arbor, Michigan as the Geriatric Services Manager as well at Jewish Family Service of Metro Detroit. obtained her Bachelors in Sociology from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and her Master of Social Work, with a certificate in Jewish Communal Leadership, from the University of Michigan.

Jordyn was born and raised in Metro Detroit. She graduated from the University of Michigan in 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and completed the Ross Cappo Sales Track. She was also a member of the JCLP 2026 cohort, with a focus in Interpersonal Practice through the Integrated Health, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse pathway.

Jordyn currently works as a clinical therapist at The Center for CBT, a private practice in New York City, where she works with teens and young adults. Outside of work and school, Jordyn enjoys spending time with family and friends, going on long walks, traveling, and visiting art fairs and farmers’ markets.

Clare Lauer currently works as a child and family therapist and executive function coach at Ann Arbor Therapy & Testing. Prior, Clare completed a two-year post-MSW clinical fellowship at the University Center for the Child and Family at the Mary A. Rackham Institute at the University of Michigan, offering therapy to children and adolescents ages 3–18 and their families. Clare holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Michigan, with a focus on mental health and interpersonal practice and earned a certificate in Jewish Communal Leadership through JCLP. Clare completed undergraduate studies in psychology and French at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin and originally hails from here in Ann Arbor.

After having worked in leadership roles in Jewish community settings for over two decades, in 2016 Renanit founded R.Levy Consulting to support the advancement of the Jewish community. The practice is focused on tactical and strategic planning, fundraising and development in support of institutional advancement. Services include planning, strategy development, foundation relations and grant writing, executive coaching, staff mentorship, hiring and onboarding, and project management.

Immediately prior to founding R.Levy Consulting, during her tenure as Director of Philanthropic Partnerships at Hazon (now Adamah), Renanit was instrumental in developing and implementing fundraising and organizational growth strategies. Prior to joining Hazon, she was the director of The Gottesman Fund, a family foundation focused on supporting Jewish life. Renanit has also worked as a grantmaker and communal planner in the areas of Jewish education and identity, government relations, and health and human services at UJA-Federation of New York, as well as in admissions for The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

During her tenure as a consultant, Renanit has partnered with a diverse range of organizations, as well as multiple individuals, to raise tens of millions of dollars, strengthen their teams and improve the way they do their work to maximize positive impact. She is known for her broad, deep knowledge of the Jewish communal landscape; her ability to dive into work with clients from day one; her unique ability to support and empower “up”, “down” and “across” an organization; and her personal passion for supporting professionals and volunteers to overcome their fear of fundraising in service of securing resources for organizations that make the world a better place.

An effective non-profit leader, Jennifer brings a strategic, adaptable, and empathetic approach to all she does. She has pursued excellence consistently throughout her career. Jennifer currently partners with non-profit organizations to maximize their capacity through fundraising, strategic planning, and leadership development. She has held leadership roles at The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore, the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit and Baltimore Child Abuse Center (now, Lifebridge Health’s Center for Hope).

Jennifer builds strong, collaborative relationships with lay leaders, volunteers, organizational and community stakeholders, and colleagues. She has extensive experience in fundraising, leadership and community development, team management, and critical thinking. Jennifer loves to work with diverse groups of people, exploring organizational challenges and opportunities, and guiding others to be their best. Integrity, trust, and listening are at the core of Jennifer’s professional practice.

After graduating with a Bachelor's of Arts in Psychology from Cornell College, Max spent a few years working and traveling around the United States. He has centered his work around supporting youth, from outdoor education in North Carolina to ABA therapy in Colorado. In 2023, he returned to Michigan to begin his time with the University of Michigan's School of Social Work and the Jewish Communal Leadership Program. Today, he is very happy to be working as a School Social Worker during the academic year and during the summer season, as a Behavior Specialist with an overnight summer camp.

Licensed therapist with over two decades of experience supporting children, families, and individuals across diverse care settings. My career began in 2001 at a Jewish Day School, where a strong foundation in school-based and family-centered mental health services was developed. After relocating to Florida, my work expanded to providing in-home support for families served through Medicaid, further strengthening expertise in community-based care. This was followed by five years in hospice as an interdisciplinary team social worker, offering compassionate end-of-life support, grief counseling, and care coordination. Today, my private practice reflects this breadth of experience and is dedicated to providing thoughtful, client-centered therapy grounded in empathy, practical guidance, and a commitment to meeting clients where they are.

Ashley Schnaar-Morof (she/her) originally hails from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, where she grew up involved at Temple Israel and with NFTY-MI. Ashley attended Michigan State University for college where she received her Bachelors of Social Work with a minor in religious studies and was a student leader at MSU Hillel. As a University of Michigan Masters of Social Work student, Ashley studied in the Management of Human Services track, and completed her field placements at the Cancer Support Community of Ann Arbor and the Trotter Multicultural Center. Ashley currently serves as the Associate Director of Planning & Agency Relations at the Jewish Federation of Detroit. She resides in Minneapolis, MN with her family.

Raviv Schwartz was born and raised on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and made Aliyah in 1982. He settled on Kibbutz Harel where he lived till 1986 and during which time he completed his service in the IDF. He arrived in Michigan with his family in 1993 and graduated Project STaR in 1996.

After returning to Israel, he completed his doctoral degree in Community Social Work at Ben Gurion University in Beer Sheva, where he was a recipient of the prestigious Kreitman Fellowship. For a number of years, Raviv conducted both applied and academic research on issues related to Arab-Jewish Relations in Israel, Israel-Diaspora Relations and the nexus between Philanthropy and social change. For the past 18 years, he has taught international students in the MA Program in Nonprofit Management and Leadership at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He has also been teaching English for the past 16 years in a high school for youth at risk located in the town of Or Yehuda.

Rebecca Starr is the Vice President of Educational Initiatives for the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America, where she leads the design and implementation process for educational initiatives and guides the regional hubs across the US and Canada. She lives in Southfield, Michigan and works closely with local partners and institutions throughout southeast Michigan.

Rebecca is a respected educator and community organizer. She served as an assistant director at Federation’s Alliance for Jewish education at the Jewish Federation of Metro Detroit, where she planned and taught professional development classes for teachers in congregational and day schools. She directed and was an instructor at the award-winning Detroit branch of the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School. Rebecca also worked for the National Ramah Commission and Camp Ramah in Canada and expanded educational and outreach initiatives.

Sam Tick-Raker was born and raised in San Francisco, California. He graduated in 2019 from the University of California, Davis with a major in Psychology and a minor in History. After his undergraduate studies, he worked for two years at Congregation Beth-El in Berkeley, California, helping run the synagogue's educational program for students Kindergarten through 8th grade. For the past three years, Sam has been employed by Seneca Family of Agencies as a Mental Health Counselor in a middle school and high school in Berkeley, working with students who have emotional and behavioral challenges. In JCLP he earned his Master's in Social Work in the Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Pathway. Sam enjoys hiking, camping, playing tennis and basketball, and cooking!

Marty has 30 years of experience in nonprofit development, facilitations and trainings, strategic planning, project management, human resources and general business management.

As the Founder and President of ZIM Consulting for the past 20 years, Marty has helped grow the firm into a nation-wide consultancy with 25 staff and 17 contractors. To date, ZIM has served 590 nonprofits across all 50 states and internationally. Those nonprofits have impacted more than 11 million lives. ZIM has also raised more than $500M to support these nonprofits. During this time, Marty has lead the fundraising strategy and recruitment teams. He has also served as an interim executive director for three organizations and helped more than 20 organizations receive their 501(c)3 status.

Marty is an alum of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Denver program, served three years as a mayoral appointee on the Denver Mayor’s Youth Commission (two of which as chair), and has participated in many other significant volunteer leadership positions both in Colorado and nationally.

Marty has received numerous awards as a result of his outstanding work in the nonprofit field. These awards include the Federation Executive Recruitment and Educational Program Fellowship, the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta’s first ever Master’s Award, and the Joshua L. Liebman national award for service to the community.