Meet the Residence Life Staff

	Residence Life Director Brad Moot is The Jewish Theological Seminary's Residence Life director, overseeing and administering all student housing and residential operations. Originally from Syracuse, New York, Brad started working at JTS in the fall of 2007. Before coming to JTS, Brad worked for 15 years in the field of Residence Life at SUNY Alfred and Hamilton College. When asked why he loves working in Residence Life, he explains, "It is exciting to witness how students are challenged to live with one another. How they negotiate and compromise to solve their issues is crucial in developing the skills they will need when they leave JTS." In his spare time, Brad loves to spend time with his dog, sing with a chorus, and escape to the Adirondacks. Contact him at brmoot@jtsa.edu.
	Residence Life Intern Marci Zimmerman is the 2011–2012 Residence Life intern. She is an MA student in the Higher Education Administration program at Teachers College, Columbia University. Marci is originally from Ellicott City, Maryland, and spent her undergraduate years in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, at Gettysburg College, where she majored in English with a Writing concentration and minored in Film Studies. Marci loves dogs, holidays, the NBC Thursday night comedy block, and anything chocolate. Contact her at mazimmerman@jtsa.edu.
View staff profiles for the Office of Student Life	Office Manager for Student Services: Shira Markert List College Jewish Life Directors: Ravid Tilles and Yaffa Garber Tilles Graduate-Level Jewish Life Director: Josh Dorsch
	Mathilde Schechter Residence Hall Staff
	Resident Directors Eric Woodward and Katharine Baker are delighted to serve as the resident directors for Mathilde Schechter Residence Hall. Eric and Katharine met at Williams College in Massachusetts, from which they both graduated. Eric is a fourth-year rabbinical student at JTS, from which he also received a master's degree in Jewish Philosophy. He recently served as the rabbinic intern at Sinai Synagogue in South Bend, Indiana. Katharine received her master's degree from Cambridge University and worked for several years in the book publishing industry. This year she is a fellow at Yeshivat Hadar in New York. Eric and Katharine enjoy traveling, hiking (especially in Israel and in the Berkshire Mountains), and exploring the restaurants and greenmarkets of New York City. Contact them at msrhrd@jtsa.edu.
	Second-Floor Resident Adviser Sarah Richman is the resident adviser on the second floor of Mathilde Schechter Residence Hall. Now excitedly beginning her third year in the Joint Program, Sarah is eager to share her knowledge and enthusiasm about college life with the residents of MSRH, especially the freshman! Sarah is majoring in Religion at Columbia and Bible at JTS. Originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Sarah loves reading, the Hudson River, and watching TV.
	Third-Floor Resident Adviser Ron Shapiro, the resident adviser on the third floor of Mathilde Schechter Residence Hall, is a junior majoring in Computer Science and Talmud / Rabbinic Literature. Hailing from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Ron clearly incorporates the same pride and spirit that fires the first-place Phillies into residence life to make amazing floor and building programs. In his spare time, he likes to take pictures, follow Middle East politics, and pursue freelance programming.
	Fourth-Floor Resident Adviser Sam Alexander is a junior in the Joint Program. He is majoring in Midrash and English Literature with a special concentration in Education. As a former List 101 intern, mentor for FIRST Robotics team 395, and trombone teacher for Columbia University Wind Ensemble's Making Music Matter program, Sam finds great satisfaction working with children and adolescents. He is known across the borough for his praise of the warm residential atmosphere at Mathilde Schecter Residence Hall and is exited to be a resident adviser at MSRH this year.
	Fifth-Floor Resident Adviser Mirit Sands is the fifth-floor resident adviser in the Mathilde Schechter Residence Hall. She is a third-year student in the Joint Program in which she is studying Psychology at Columbia and Bible at JTS. Mirit is originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, and loves spending her summers at Camp Ramah Darom. She enjoys traveling, watching and playing sports, doing creative art projects, hanging out with friends and family, and giving back to her community.
	Goldsmith Residence Hall Staff
	Resident Directors Talia and Michael Kushnick are happy to be kicking off their first year as RDs in the Goldsmith Residence Hall. Michael is a fourth-year student at The Rabbinical School and is also working on getting his master's degree from the William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education. He enjoys bike riding, swimming, and following Florida sports. When not in school or around Goldsmith, Michael is the director of the Etgar program at Oheb Shalom in South Orange. Talia and Michael met at the Haar Family Kallah in 2007. She received her master's degree in Informal Jewish Education from The Davidson School and currently works as the director of education at Congregation Shaare Zedek. She loves cooking, reading, and watching bad reality tv. Contact them at ghrd@jtsa.edu.
	Graduate Resident Adviser Hello! I'm Yoni Nadiv and I am the resident adviser for the graduate school floors in Goldsmith. I completed List College last year and am currently a first-year rabbinical student. I teach Hebrew school during the year and run the travel camp at the JCC in Michigan (where I'm from) over the summer. I love working in the residence halls because I am able to be a part of an incredible community. I'm looking forward to having a great year.
	Second-Floor Resident Adviser Chava Creque is the second-floor resident adviser in Goldsmith Hall. She is currently a senior in the Joint Program and this is her second year as a resident adviser. Chava is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area and, after three years in New York City, has almost grown accustomed to having seasons. Chava majors in Psychology at Columbia and Modern Jewish Studies at JTS. Her favorite part about being a member of the Residence Life team is the opportunity to collaborate with other resident advisers and on-campus groups to organize fun and engaging programs. When she's not hanging around Goldsmith, Chava is a Hebrew teacher and performs with Columbia's best (and only) sketch comedy troupe.
	Third-Floor Resident Adviser Matt Sherman is a senior in the Joint Program, serving as a List College resident adviser for the second year—this is his first year as an RA in Goldsmith. As an RA in Mathilde Schechter, he was known for his numerous Cinnabon programs. Matt grew up in Jericho, New York, and entered the Joint Program in the fall of 2008. Studying Talmud at JTS and majoring in History—specializing in Comparative Empires—with a Pre-Medical concentration, Matt hopes to attend medical school after concluding his undergraduate studies. Matt enjoys hunting the city—often with camera in hand—for the best hidden restaurants and holes in the wall, playing golf, exploring Brooklyn, and making use of Columbia's South Lawn for the 10 days a year it is open.
	Fourth-Floor Resident Adviser Britany Weissman is a resident adviser in the Goldsmith Residence Hall. Originally from Chappaqua, New York, Britany is currently a senior in the Joint Program. She is majoring in Neuroscience and Behavior at Columbia University and Modern Jewish Studies at List College. Britany is also completing Columbia University's premedical curriculum and hopes to pursue a career in medicine. In her free time, Britany volunteers in the emergency department of St. Luke's Hospital.
	Brush Residence Hall Staff
	Resident Director Originally from Paducah, Kentucky, Jess Minnen is the resident director for Brush Hall and oversees the community of graduate students who live there. Before beginning The Rabbinical School, Jess received her BA from Washington University in St. Louis and her MA from Baltimore Hebrew University. She has also studied at La Sorbonne in Paris, Machon Pardes and Machon Schechter in Jerusalem, and the Paideia Institute for European Jewish Studies in Stockholm. Her primary focus in the rabbinate is education, and after ordination in 2013, she plans to continue her studies in the doctoral program at The Davidson School. When not daydreaming about the dynamic future of Jewish education, Jess enjoys jogging in Riverside Park, creating epic playlists on Spotify, and partaking of the coffee and café culture in New York City. Contact her at brushrd@jtsa.edu.