Staff and Governing Board

Rabbi Nomi Manon

Executive Director

Rabbi Manon is a native of Brookline, MA.  She comes to UAlbany Hillel from Philadelphia where she attended the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and was Director of Hillel at Ursinus College.  Nomi is a graduate of Alfred University where she served as Hillel President in addition to being involved in many other aspects of student life.  In Rabbinical school Nomi’s specialization was in campus work which focused on enhancing the Jewish experience of college students as well as non-profit management and fundraising.  She is passionate about working at UAlbany Hillel, a pluralist organization that recognizes, supports, and encourages all types of Jewish expression.  Nomi encourages students to explore their many identities and passions in a Jewish context.  Nomi is always available for informal counseling and conversations about life, Judaism, politics and relationships.  Nomi and her partner Suzanna are the proud parents of their daughter Shoham.

Lisa Friedman

Program Director

Lisa graduated from UAlbany in 2007 with a major in Communication & Rhetoric. Born in Queens but raised in Clifton Park, she was very involved with NFTY-NE at Congregation Gates of Heaven in Schenectady and attended Jewish summer camp during high school. In college, she became the advisor for her home TYG and taught classes at Schenectady Area Midrasha. She’s excited to return to UAlbany after spending 2 years as the Jewish Student Life Coordinator for Hillel at the University of Rhode Island. Lisa loves to travel, make new friends, and go off on wild tangents. She also has an uncanny ability to remember song lyrics. Currently, she is going through a Beatles/Simon & Garfunkel/Motown phase, but is an equal opportunity music lover.

Lisa graduated from UAlbany in 2007 with a major in Communication & Rhetoric. Born in Queens but raised in Clifton Park, she was very involved with NFTY-NE at Congregation Gates of Heaven in Schenectady and attended Jewish summer camp during high school. In college, she became the advisor for her home TYG and taught classes at Schenectady Area Midrasha. She’s excited to return to UAlbany after spending 2 years as the Jewish Student Life Coordinator for Hillel at the University of Rhode Island. Lisa loves to travel, make new friends, and go off on wild tangents. She also has an uncanny ability to remember song lyrics. Currently, she is going through a Beatles/Simon & Garfunkel/Motown phase, but is an equal opportunity music lover.

David Hausler

Jewish Life Associate

Lisa graduated from UAlbany in 2007 with a major in Communication & Rhetoric. Born in Queens but raised in Clifton Park, she was very involved with NFTY-NE at Congregation Gates of Heaven in Schenectady and attended Jewish summer camp during high school. In college, she became the advisor for her home TYG and taught classes at Schenectady Area Midrasha. She’s excited to return to UAlbany after spending 2 years as the Jewish Student Life Coordinator for Hillel at the University of Rhode Island. Lisa loves to travel, make new friends, and go off on wild tangents. She also has an uncanny ability to remember song lyrics. Currently, she is going through a Beatles/Simon & Garfunkel/Motown phase, but is an equal opportunity music lover.

David graduated from Temple University with a BA in Marketing. Born and raised in Schenectady, David spent 5 years in Philadelphia before succumbing to the allure of the Albany area once again. He has been to Israel four times, and most recently spent the fall of 2008 volunteering on Kibbutz Ketura in the Negev Desert. David was active in USY throughout high school, as well as AEPi in college. He enjoys travelling; road trips are his favorite. David is also very enthusiastic about his music, and maintains that all the best music was made before 1980 (with a few exceptions). David is excited about helping students find connections to their Jewish identities. Feel free to find him on campus and ask him about Hillel or Israel, because he loves both.

Aviva Snyder

Special Project Consultant

Aviva received her BA in Judaic Studies from UAlbany and has worked at UAlbany Hillel for many years.  She served as the Student Life Coordinator, the Director for Jewish Student Life, and as the Executive Director.  Prior to her Hillel work, she was employed by Temple Israel as the Communications and Administrative Services Manager, and at Ohav Shalom as both a Hebrew School teacher and Family Education Coordinator.  Aviva grew up in Highland Mills, NY and moved to Albany in 1996 to attend University at Albany.  Aviva loves spending time with her beautiful daughter Noa.

Board of Trustees:

Staff and Governing Board