Hillel 818 Executive Director chosen for Wexner Field Fellowship
A hearty mazal tov to our Executive Director Matt Baram, who is one of the 15 outstanding Jewish professionals from North America selected for Class 8 of the prestigious Wexner Field Fellowship! This is a great moment and honor for Matt and for Hillel 818 - we are so proud!
You can read the Wexner Foundation's official press release below.
Fifteen select Jewish professionals will receive leadership training, professional development, and Jewish learning over the course of three years.
The Wexner Foundation, in partnership with the Jim Joseph Foundation, welcomes Class 8 of the Wexner Field Fellowship. Utilizing the diverse, cohort-based learning that is the hallmark of Foundation leadership initiatives, Field Fellows learn from experienced faculty and develop tools to enhance their leadership while addressing the pressing issues in the Jewish community. These fifteen professionals were selected from a competitive pool of applicants for this three-year intensive program. Class 8 of the Wexner Field Fellowship will be integrated into The Wexner Foundation’s network of 3,000 professional and volunteer leaders in North America and Israel, including 45 current Field Fellows and 85 Alumni.
“Today’s Jewish leaders need a reservoir of courage, a cadre of wise colleagues, and a reimagined set of scenarios for a vibrant and secure Jewish People tomorrow,” said Rabbi B. Elka Abrahamson, President of The Wexner Foundation. “Our Field Fellows are blessed with a cohort of peers, a circle of proud and determined Jewish professionals each prepared to exercise leadership for a strengthened Jewish community even when it is hard to see around the corner. This is not a new reality in our history, but nonetheless a difficult one. The capacity to develop and support a new generation of Jewish professionals is one The Wexner Foundation cherishes more than ever. We are proud to introduce these newest Wexner Field Fellows, remarkable individuals our community needs more than ever.”
“Life changed irrevocably following October 7th and Jewish communities face unprecedented challenges right now,” adds Barry Finestone, President and CEO of the Jim Joseph Foundation. “We need leaders with the vision, talent, and dedication to navigate this current moment and to strengthen Jewish life in the future. Meaningful Jewish experiences provide people with immense support and profound learning throughout life’s highs and lows. The newest Wexner Field Fellows, along with past cohorts, are vital to this work that can lift up individuals and entire communities.”
As part of this three-year intensive professional development program, Wexner Field Fellows: • Become part of a selective cohort of lifelong professional learners.
• Learn with amazing leadership teachers and Jewish educators.
• Receive one-on-one professional coaching and Jewish learning, along with access to funds toward customized professional development opportunities.
• Develop a nuanced appreciation for the diversity of the North American Jewish community.
• Focus on developing strengths in adaptive leadership, negotiation, difficult conversations, mindful communication, and other crucial leadership skills.
To learn more about the Wexner Field Fellowship, click here.
About The Wexner Foundation
The Wexner Foundation develops and inspires leaders in the North American Jewish community and public service leaders for the State of Israel. Through diverse, cohort-based educational programs, the Foundation invests in promising professionals and volunteers, giving them tools to exercise transformative leadership. Working in partnership with other foundations, philanthropists, and local communities, the Foundation develops visionary, purpose-driven, and collaborative leaders. For more information, please visit The Wexner Foundation’s website.
