Community member Ethan Helfand has been named the new executive director of KU Hillel.
Helfand will start on June 17, concluding his time as director of Jewish Experiences, a collaboration of Jewish Federation and The J.
Helfand’s appointment is the culmination of a search process for a new KU Hillel executive director conducted in partnership with Hillel International and led by a volunteer search committee chaired by Miriam Kaseff.
“Ethan's knowledge, previous experience with Hillel and passion for student engagement made him a strong candidate,” Kaseff said. “He is deeply rooted in the Kansas City community and has cultivated local relationships. He plans to extend KU Hillel's reach to alumni across the country. Ethan received high marks from executive directors from local organizations, solidifying the support KU Hillel would receive with Ethan at the helm.”
As executive director, Helfand will lead KU Hillel’s staff and serve as the liaison between Hillel, its local partners and the University of Kansas. He will succeed past Executive Director Suzy Sostrin and current Interim Executive Director Bailey Nakelsky.
“I cannot wait to work alongside the wonderful students, dedicated board and incredibly talented staff that make KU Hillel a destination campus for Jewish students from all over the country," Helfand said. "I would not be where I am today without my time as a student, as a leader and as a professional at Hillel, and I'm so proud to have the chance to sustain and grow the incredible legacy of this institution.”
Born and raised in Kansas City, Helfand has focused on building Jewish community through intentional immersive programming, informal Jewish education and leadership and organizational development.
His career as a Jewish professional started at Herzl Camp in Wisconsin where he led the Ozo program, serving as director of staff in training and later as the director of Jewish education. Soon thereafter, Ethan took the helm of the youth group USY’s EMTZA Region, serving as regional director of teen engagement.
He has also served as associate director for programs and leadership at Jewish Life at Duke in Durham, North Carolina. In his most recent role, Helfand innovated Jewish programming and educational efforts locally with Jewish Experiences, a collaboration of Jewish Federation and The J.
Helfand holds a Bachelor of Arts in Judaic studies and philosophy from The George Washington University and a Master of Arts in Judaic studies from Brandeis University, with a concentration in post-Holocaust American Jewish Literature and Society.
Community members who have questions or well-wishes for Helfand can email him at .
