Meet Our Staff

Who's Who in Student Life
	Sara Horowitz, Dean of Student Life, guides the staff with a caring hand and an abundance of energy. She enjoys spending her time working with JTS students and the Office of Student Life. Sara was born and raised in the Washington DC area, but feels truly at home in New York City's Morningside Heights neighborhood. She graduated from the University of Maryland with a BA in Government and Politics, and received an MA and an MEd in Student Affairs Administration from Teachers College, Columbia University.
	Ruth Decalo, Director of Student Life and Community Outreach, helps to facilitate and coordinate the myriad student life and community service initiatives spearheaded by the JTS community. Her work before coming to JTS has taken her around the world working with youth, refugees, and trade unions. She has also worked with domestic Jewish organizations during her time at the Jewish Outreach Institute. She’s always happy to discuss her service in the Peace Corps, local volunteer opportunities, arcane medieval trivia, Harry Potter, international literature, music, and travel.
	Shira Markert, Student Services Office Manager, is the first smiling face you will see as you enter the Office of Student Life. She grew up in New Jersey and began working at JTS's Office of Student Life soon after graduating from New York University in 2003 with a BA in Judaic Studies. Shira loves working with JTS students.
Jewish Life Directors The Jewish Life directors (JLDs) help create and foster community in the Mathilde Schechter, Goldsmith, and Brush Residence Halls through Jewish cultural, religious, and educational programming; home hospitality; and their daily interactions with residents. Have a question about Judaism or Jewish life in New York City? Ask your JLD and he/she will help you find the answer.
	Ravid Tilles and Yaffa Garber Tilles, List College Jewish Life Directors, are very excited to be a part of the Student Life team! Ravid, originally from Maryland, is a fourth-year rabbinical student with a concentration in Clinical Pastoral Education. Ravid graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with Bachelor's in Arts and Social Work. Yaffa, originally from Boston, is studying for her Master's in Social Work at Yeshiva University and is an alumna of the Double Degree List College program from which she received a BA in Bible from JTS and a BA in American Studies from Barnard College. Yaffa and Ravid met in USY and have been married for over two years. They love to dance, play board games, watch TV and movies, and play Guitar Hero. They look forward to getting to know all of the List College students!
	Josh Dorsch, Graduate Level Jewish Life Director, is a fourth-year student in The Rabbinical School at JTS and is also earning his MA in Jewish Education from The Davidson School. Josh graduated from List College in 2008 with a BA in Political Science from Columbia University, and a second BA from JTS in Talmud and Rabbinics. Originally from Wynnewood, PA, Josh is a former competitive table tennis player and enjoys rooting for his favorite Philadelphia sports teams, the Phillies and the Eagles. This year, Josh will serve as a rabbinic intern at the University of Hartford's Hillel and Temple Emanuel in West Hartford, CT. After a great year in Israel, studying at Machon Schechter and working for Ramah Israel Seminar, Josh is really excited to return to New York City, resume his studies at JTS, and serve as the Jewish Life Director (JLD) for graduate students.