Meet the Team

Behind every meaningful experience at Hunter Hillel is a passionate team dedicated to empowering Jewish students. Our staff creates a welcoming, vibrant, and inclusive community where students can explore their Jewish identity, build lifelong friendships, and develop as leaders.

From inspiring programs to one-on-one mentorship, our team is here to support and guide students on their journey. Reach out to us— we’d love to connect with you!

  • Executive Director

    Merav Fine Braun is the Executive Director at the Rita Levine Rabin Hillel at Hunter College and a proud member of the Hillel movement. She is a graduate of NYU's Wagner/Skirball dual Masters program in Nonprofit Management and Judaic Studies, and she holds a BA in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland, College Park. Merav has been featured in the New York Jewish Week's 36 under 36 for her work supporting diverse students on a commuter campus, and was awarded the Richard M. Joel Exemplar of Excellence Award in 2023. She is proud to serve the Hillel Movement in her role as Directors Cabinet Co-Chair.

    Merav is as passionate about supporting colleagues in professional development and career advancement as she is about supporting her students at Hillel. In her spare time she practices and teaches yoga, loves to host a Shabbat meal, and spends time outdoors with her husband, Adam, and her three children, Doron, Eitan, and Maayan. She has proudly served on the Hillel Director’s Cabinet since 2020, and is the immediate past Chair of Hillel Director’s Cabinet as well.
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    Book a meeting with me here!

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  • Assistant Director

    Yael Kornfeld, LCSW, is the Assistant Director of the Hunter Hillel. Yael started with Hunter Hillel in October 2021 as their first ever full time Social Worker and in January of 2024 was promoted to AD. Yael received her MSW from the Silberman school of social work in 2010 and holds a BA in Jewish Studies from Rutgers University with a special interest in Yiddish language. After graduating from Rutgers, Yael participated in AVODAH, the Jewish service corps, working in Washington D.C. at a day shelter for homeless women. Yael was a synagogue social worker at DOROT for ten years, working with older adults on the upper west and east sides of Manhattan.

    Yael was also one of the founders of Base, in 2015. Base is a program that provides Jewish young adults with a welcoming, home-based environment for Jewish learning, community building, and engagement and which now lives under the umbrella of Moishe house.

    Yael is passionate about supporting college students as they journey through this time. She loves thinking about what kind of programs and events they will love and actualizing the students interests and dreams.

    Yael enjoys singing, and has led a number of high holiday services (even in Australia), in addition to leading services at her local synagogue. She bakes and cooks, but nothing fancy. Yael is a strong advocate of lemon loving, letter writing, and messy cooking.

    Yael's greatest sidekicks include Revaya (13), Hillel (9) and Shabtai (5).

    Book a meeting with me here!

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  • Program and Engagement Manager

    Maya is the Program & Engagement Manager at Hunter Hillel. She brings a love of community building, social justice, and Jewish Joy to her work of engaging students and supporting student leaders. She is thrilled to be working at a Hillel after Vanderbilt University Hillel was her second home in college, inspiring her Jewish journey and helping her find her voice.

    Maya previously worked as Director of Youth Engagement at the Community Synagogue of Rye, where she brought a philosophy of connection and whimsy to youth engagement and Jewish educational programming. She has also spent 11 summers serving at URJ Eisner Camp as a counselor, Unit Head, CLASP Fellow (Camp Leadership and Synagogue Professional), and most recently a member of their Faculty, guiding campers and staff to be the best versions of themselves!

    Maya holds a degree in Secondary Education and Mathematics from Vanderbilt University (2022). Outside of work, Maya loves thrifting, singing and playing guitar, seeing new plays & musicals, and watching cooking shows with her family! 

    You can meet her in person and/or reach her by email: maya@hunterhillel.org

  • Social Work Intern

    Lily Satz is a Master of Social Work (MSW) intern at New York University who earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from The Ohio State University. She is passionate about supporting mental health, fostering meaningful connections, and creating a welcoming environment where others feel seen, heard, and empowered. Lily is excited to join the Hunter Hillel community and combine her passion for mental health with Jewish community and student engagement.

  • Social Worker

    Julia is a social worker at Hunter Hillel who integrates adaptive leadership with clinical practice to support individuals and communities through meaningful transformation. She brings a background in innovation, storytelling, and student engagement, with a focus on amplifying underrepresented voices and fostering connection.

    Previously, Julia served as Director of Special Projects and Director of Innovation and Student Engagement at Tulane Hillel, where she founded The Portrait Identity Project, a nationally recognized initiative combining portrait photography and narrative storytelling that has reached more than 1,000 students nationwide. She also coached students as a Springboard Innovation Fellow, guiding them to co-create initiatives that shape their communities through human-centered design and relational engagement.

    Julia holds a Master’s in Social Work from New York University (2025) and a BFA in Photography from The Ohio State University (2019).

  • Jewish Agency Israel Fellow

    Yahav grew up in Kibbutz Yotvata in southern Israel and was actively involved in the HaMachanot HaOlim youth movement, where she later served as a youth counselor and completed a gap-year service program. During her military service, she worked with at-risk youth, and after moving to Tel Aviv, she worked in the Jewish Agency's summer camps and coordinated several camps as part of the Hallelujah Project. Yahav holds a B.Ed./B.F.A. and a teaching diploma from Kibbutzim College of Education.

    You can meet her in person and/or reach her by email: yahav@hunterhillel.org

  • Springboard Fellow

    Vivian is a Brooklyn-born Jewish community builder and graduate of Brandeis University, where she earned a BA in Psychology and Studio Art. During her time at Brandeis, she served as President of the Brandeis Hillel Student Board and was involved in numerous Jewish organizations and initiatives across campus. Vivian is passionate about recovery-informed community building, creative expression, and creating spaces rooted in connection, vulnerability, and care.

    Vivian is excited to begin her role as the Springboard Fellow at Hunter Hillel, where she looks forward to building meaningful relationships with students, fostering a warm and inclusive Jewish community, and helping create opportunities for students to explore and deepen their own Jewish journeys.

    You can meet her in person and/or reach her by email: vivian@hunterhillel.org

  • Social Work Intern

    Chelsea Leeds grew up in New Jersey and spent part of her high school years in the Berkshires, where she developed a deep appreciation for nature and community. Chelsea holds a bachelor's degree in business with a focus on hospitality and food and beverage management. Chelsea has worked across several facets of the hospitality and food industry, gaining experience in client services, marketing, and project management — all centered around creating thoughtful, people-oriented interactions.

    Now pursuing her MSW, Chelsea brings her work and life experience, along with a deep desire for learning, to a new setting. She is passionate about supporting individuals in meaningful, human-centered, and holistic ways, always striving to make a positive impact on the lives of the clients she serves. Chelsea finds joy in reading, cooking and baking for friends, spending time outdoors, and engaging in the Jewish community. She’s excited to bring her warmth, curiosity, and commitment to connection into her internship with Hillel at Hunter College.

    You can meet her in person and/or reach her by email: chelsea@hunterhillel.org

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  • Chief Executive Assistant

    Mel Marquez brings over a decade of experience in operations and project management, specializing in process optimization, community engagement, and executive support. With a background in both startups and established organizations, Mel has helped businesses streamline workflows, enhance productivity, and improve user experiences. Previously, they served as a Program Operations Coordinator at PILOT, where they optimized systems to strengthen engagement and retention.

    Passionate about community building, Mel has also led their own consulting business, Whistle & Work, providing administrative and strategic support to entrepreneurs and business leaders. Outside of work, they are very involved in LGBTQIA+ community organizing and have a background in independent radio, having served as a DJ and Assistant Marketing Director at CHIRP 107.1 FM.

    Mel shares their life with their wonderful partner, Anna, and their beloved dog, Vivian.