President

In her nearly four decades of work in the nonprofit sector, Barbara served as Director of the Department of Jewish Life and Learning at the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia; Dean of Academic Administration and Director of Campus Chaplaincy Training at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College; and Associate Director of Hillel of Greater Philadelphia, among other positions. 

Retired since 2018, Barbara devotes time to Interfaith Philadelphia as a member of Visionary Women, a multi-faith and multi-generational dialogue program; and where she also facilitates workshops on civil discourse and bridge-building. In addition, she provides pro bono consulting to local nonprofits as a member of Volunteer Executive Consultants.

Earlier volunteer work included serving on the board of the Lower Merion Library System, and as Board Chair of SHALVA, an organization devoted to addressing domestic violence in the Jewish community.

Chair, Stakeholder Engagement

Born in New York City, Jonathan M. Broder received a BA from Oberlin College and a JD from Temple in 1983. He also received an MA (2011) and MPhil (2019) from the University Pennsylvania. After receiving his JD and working in private practice as a litigator for several years, he joined Conrail’s law department in 1988, where he specialized in economic regulatory litigation, antitrust compliance, and general commercial litigation. There, Broder served as Vice President of Corporate Development and Chief Legal Officer where he managed Conrail’s legal and corporate affairs, as well as its real estate and business development departments.

Broder is an Adjunct Professor at Temple University’s School of Law and Co-editor of The Temple 10Q: Temple’s Business Law Magazine. He also serves on the Leadership Development Taskforce of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, is a past Chair of the Board of Temple University Hillel, the current Congregation President of Congregation Rodeph Shalom, and a past president and trustee of Jewish Learning Venture.

Treasurer

Andrew J. Cohen is Hillel International’s Vice President for Technology Strategy and Operations. In this role, he directs the digital applications and information technology teams that support the entire Hillel movement. For twenty years, Andrew has served as a technology consultant to influential nonprofit organizations including the American Red Cross, Consumer Reports, the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, Planned Parenthood Federation, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Andrew’s expertise includes information technology, cybersecurity, user experience design, website development, and online community strategy. Andrew received his M.A at the University of Florida and his B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His son is an undergraduate at Temple University, which is how he found his way into the Owl community.

Development Chair

Secretary

Jordan is Director of Employee Relations at Comcast where he is responsible for providing advice and counsel to the HR organization and business leaders regarding the company's labor and employment legal matters. Prior to joining Comcast, Jordan was Assistant General Counsel at Spectra, a Philadelphia-based venue management and food services provider, where he oversaw all labor and employment matters. Jordan previously worked as an associate at the law firms Jackson Lewis and Reed Smith where he focused on litigating employment discrimination, wage and hour, and restrictive covenant lawsuits.

A Philadelphia native, Jordan is a graduate of Yale University and the Temple University Beasley School of Law.

Executive Director

Laurel began her journey with Hillel while studying social work at the University of Texas, Austin. From her first Birthright Israel trip to her work today she has known the importance of vibrant Jewish life on campus.  

In addition to her MSW (2009) & BSW (2005) from UT, Laurel also received a MA in Jewish Communal Service from Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion. She comes to Temple Hillel with diverse professional experience within the Jewish community including: Federation, summer camps, early childhood education, and young adult engagement.  

Laurel, her husband Rabbi Eli Freedman of Congregation Rodeph Shalom, their two daughters, and two dogs, live near campus in Olde Kensington. When not at the Rosen Center, Laurel can be found playing music, going to shows, or making challah. She looks forward to connecting with you!

Joy Bernstein is a native Philadelphian, and attended University of Pennsylvania (undergrad), class of Dec. 1979, and Temple University School of Law, class of May 1983.  She practiced law for 38 years, mainly as a litigator, at the City of Philadelphia, a private firm, and, for the last 30 years, at CIGNA/ACE/Chubb, before retiring in May 2021.  She met her husband and co-president, Jon Broder, at Temple Law.  They have two children, Rachel (a Temple-Temple Law graduate and practicing lawyer) and Josh (a Johnson & Wales graduate and chef); and a granddaughter, Ella.  Joy has been a part of the Temple Hillel family for 10 years as a Board member and co-president.  Having a vital and vibrant Jewish presence on-campus is very important to her, as is having an open, diverse and safe space where all members of the Temple community can feel at home, learn, and relax.

Mary Ellen Bernstein is a proud Temple owl. A graduate of the Fox School of Business, she worked at the Hay Group, a global management consulting firm. She is a past board chair and currently serves on the Board of Directors of Hillel at Temple University. She was also vice president of the Hillel of Greater Philadelphia Board, serving the campuses of Temple University, University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, West Chester University as well as some of the smaller campuses such as Bryn Mawr College , Swarthmore College and Haverford College.

She served more than 15 years on the Board of Trustees of Main Line Reform Temple, in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. Mary Ellen is currently a member of Impact100, a collective giving organization that funds high impact grants to nonprofit organizations in the Philadelphia region.

Vice President

Immediate-Past Treasurer

Zach brings extensive leadership experience to Hillel, having served on the board since 2021 and as the organization's immediate past Treasurer.  During his tenure as Treasurer, he strengthened the organization's financial foundation and implemented practices that enhanced Hillel's capacity to serve the community. His commitment to both Jewish community life and educational excellence has made him a valued contributor to our mission.

Following a distinguished career as a results-oriented executive in financial services, Zach returned to his alma mater to serve as an Adjunct Professor at Temple University's Fox School of Business. He brings real-world business expertise into the classroom, bridging theoretical concepts with practical application. His innovative teaching methods and dedication to student success have created dynamic learning environments that challenge students to think critically and develop professional skills.

Zach's commitment to teaching has earned him significant recognition, including the prestigious Provost's Award for Teaching Excellence, one of Temple University's highest academic distinctions. His impact on students is further evidenced by their selection of him as the Fox Honors Program Professor of the Year, demonstrating his ability to inspire and engage academically accomplished students.

Zach holds a BBA from Temple University and an MBA from Drexel University, providing him with a strong foundation in business principles that he applies in both his teaching and service to Hillel. Above all, he is a devoted husband, father, and grandfather whose greatest pleasure comes from spending time with his family. 

Rabbi Eric Yanoff has served as one of the rabbis at Adath Israel in Merion Station since 2010. Having visited as a guest teacher for student-led dinner/study sessions, Eric was impressed with the self-starting, supportive community provided by Hillel to Temple students, and so he is honored to serve on the Board for Hillel. He hopes to help build and sustain a future for Jewish leadership and engagement through the work of Temple Hillel. Eric lives in Bala Cynwyd with his wife Dava and their four children, Aiden, Ezra, Avi, and Anael. He enjoys playing piano and cycling.