Staff

Tilly Shemer (she/her) is the Executive Director of University of Michigan Hillel.  Tilly has worked with Hillels in Toronto and Michigan for nearly two decades in various positions, including Director of Israel Affairs and Associate Director, before becoming Executive Director at the University of Michigan in 2012. Tilly is passionate about youth engagement, community-building, pluralism, women’s advancement, and reproductive access. She holds a Master’s degree in International Affairs and a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and Political Science. She is a Wexner Field Fellow Alum and sits on the Board of Directors of Encounter. She loves art, traveling, hiking, and eating and talking about food. She lives in Ann Arbor with her wife Or, their daughter Maya, and their 2 cats: Fanny (Brice) and (Elder) Kevin (Price). Contact Tilly Shemer

Sean is the Associate Director of the University of Michigan Hillel. He spent 15 years working in Jewish overnight camping before joining the Michigan Hillel team in 2019. His years mentoring and coaching college age staff through leadership and professional development help make him a great fit to work alongside our student leadership. Sean believes passionately in creating Jewish community by building strong relationships and crafting intentional spaces for people to cultivate their own Jewish identity. Sean resides in Huntington Woods, MI with his wife, Jenny, and two daughters, Olivia and Hazel. Contact Sean Morgan

Stacy is our Hillel’s Director of Advancement & Planned Giving, leading the charge for all of our fundraising initiatives. She made her way to Michigan after growing up in New Jersey and spending four years at another Big 10 school – which shall not be named! When she is not in the office chatting with Wolverine moms and dads, she can be found riding the trails on her horse farm or playing with her two little children, Fiona and Declan. Contact Stacy Carroll

Rav Lisa Stella is our Director of Religious Life and Education. She is a passionate educator, deeply committed to helping college students connect with, and create, Jewish life, learning, and community. Rav Lisa received her rabbinic ordination from the Rabbinical School at Hebrew College in 2014, where she also earned a certificate in Jewish Sacred Music. Rav Lisa particularly enjoys teaching about Jewish Foodways, Feminism, and Jewish Ritual. Before Rabbinical School, Lisa spent three years in Israel, two of them studying at the Pardes Institute for Jewish Learning, and the third wandering a bit in the desert. Rav Lisa is originally from Wisconsin and received her BA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She loves to talk about baseball, her favorite recipes, and her optimism about the Jewish future. Rav Lisa lives in Ann Arbor with her spouse, Zach Kaiser, an Associate Professor of Graphic Design at Michigan State University, and their daughter, Lillian. Contact Rabbi Lisa Stella

Haley is an Ann Arbor native and attended U-M for both her undergraduate and graduate studies, most recently earning an MSW with a certificate in Jewish Communal Leadership. Haley is thrilled to be able to share her excitement for Jewish life at Hillel, and looks forward to helping students discover how Judaism can intersect with a multitude of other identities and passions. When Haley is not engaged in conversations about the American Jewish community, she is probably talking about politics, Michigan football, her cat, Zuzy, or her dog, Joey. Contact Haley Schreier

Diane is an Indiana native, hough now she must be a Michigander because she’s been in Michigan many more years than Indiana. Diane is now our Hillel's longest employee - since 1993! - has is amazing at being our Director of Operations. She spends her time outside of Hillel playing soccer; baking; and chasing her son, Adam, and granddaughter, Lena. Contact Diane Redman

 

Jonathan Shepard joined Michigan Hillel as the Head Chef of the Hillel Café. Jonathan has loved cooking since he was a child, spending time with his parents making holiday meals, and learning basic culinary skills. While attending culinary school at American River college, he further pursued his desire of becoming a chef, figuring out the culinary styles he enjoys the most and how to express himself through his creations. Through his work experience, Jonathan has further discovered who he is as a chef and is excited to share his food with our Hillel. He is looking forward to students stopping by, saying hello, and joining him for a meal! Contact Jonathan Shepard

Brandon is the Human Resources/ Operations manager of Michigan Hillel. He has experience working within the Human Resources field as an employee relations specialist and administrator in different companies. Outside of Hillel, Brandon enjoys traveling and going to different museums in his spare time. Contact Brandon Harrison

Emma is a California native and is so excited to be in Ann Arbor. She studied Sociology and Jewish studies at UC Davis (go ags!) where she was active in SAEPi and her Hillel. Emma is always excited to cultivate meaningful relationships with all the different Jewish communities and students at UM. Stop by her desk if you want to talk about all things Jewish or the bus she drove in college. When Emma is not at Hillel, you can find her cooking or baking something delicious, petting other people’s dogs, or exploring all that Ann Arbor has to offer. Contact Emma Voit

Sarah Balis grew up in Plano, Texas before attending Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University (ASU). She majored in Human Communication with minors in Religious Studies and Nonprofit Management. At ASU, she was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta and was extremely involved with the Hillel. She spent time in Jerusalem teaching English with Masa Israel Teaching Fellows. Although she misses the shawarma and rugelach in Israel, she is always excited to bring her passion for Jewish life to the University of Michigan's students. Her Spotify wrapped usually consists of Hamilton, the Jonas Brothers, and Ben Platt. Contact Sarah Balis

Or is the Israeli Fellow for UofM Hillel. He grew up and lived in Ramat Gan until he moved to Tel Aviv. He graduated from IDC, studying  Law and Government. During his studies, he took part in a student exchange program and studied for a semester at Singapore Management University. In his free time, Or likes listening to music, traveling, and playing sports. Email Or to grab a coffee with him on campus to get to know him better, and learn more about Israel. Contact Or Bar Noy

Born and raised in a family full of Michigan alum, Hannah is so excited to make her debut as a Michigan Wolverine! Hannah, her husband Brandon, and their adorable blue-eyed corgi, Odie, live a little over a mile away from her parents in Farmington Hills. (Big family gal!) Outside of Hillel, you can find Hannah obsessively talking about her dog, working hard at crafting handmade greeting cards, organizing her entire house in rainbow order (She's a Joanna with a hint of Clea), reading popular Booktok novels, and rewatching the same 5 shows she'll insist you watch because they're that good. Contact Hannah Hoffman

Allison grew up in Metro Detroit before attending U of M as a Psychology and Judaic Studies major and minoring in Community Action and Social Change. After a year in Pittsburgh working at Hillel at Pitt, Allison is thrilled to be returning to Ann Arbor working for Michigan Hillel. In her free time, Allison loves strolling in downtown Ann Arbor, brunching with friends, and watching Michigan athletics. Allison can’t wait to bring students to Israel and take them to the best restaurants in Jerusalem (if she can decide where to go). Contact Allison Bloomberg