Meet Our Staff
Debbie Yunker Kail, Executive Director
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Contact Debbie about...
debbie@hillelasu.org |
A self-identified coffee addict, Debbie can most likely be found in a local coffee shop chatting with students, staff or community members about why Judaism is amazing, inspiring and challenging. Debbie prioritizes pluralism, innovation, collaboration, and leadership development and her favorite Hillel moments bring these values together in ways that are advancing ASU Hillel to become one of the best Hillels in the country. She welcomes conversations with students from all political and religious backgrounds. After completing SafeZone training, Debbie is recognized by Arizona State University as an Ally for the LGBTQIA community.
Debbie works hard to strengthen the Jewish community on and off campus, cultivating partnerships between ASU Hillel and BBYO, NFTY, Moishe House Phoenix, AIPAC, JNF, and several local synagogues. Debbie uses these partnerships to bridge the gaps between high school, college, and post-college Jewish life. Debbie also serves on the core team for Hillel International’s Measuring Excellence Program, a group of professionals redefining metrics of excellence for the entire Hillel movement. Outside of the Hillel world, she serves on the Camp Daisy and Harry Stein Advisory board and the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix’s NOWGen Task Force. She is a mentor for the Women’s Jewish Learning Center Women’s Leadership Institute and serves on the board that founded LimmudAZ.
Before coming to ASU, Debbie spent seven years at the University of Pennsylvania Hillel, overseeing a multi-tiered engagement approach to Jewish life on campus. While at Penn, Debbie completed Weinberg ACCELERATE: Hillel’s Executive Training Program. Debbie began her Hillel career at Washington University in St. Louis where she was a Steinhardt Jewish Campus Service Corps Fellow for two years. Originally from Framingham, MA, Debbie holds a B.A. in psychology from Emory University and an M. A. in Higher Education Administration from New York University, where she also worked in residential and fraternity/sorority life and planned a national conference about the Jewish college student experience. Debbie lives in Phoenix, AZ with her husband Ben, son Gabe and daughter Emma. They enjoys supporting the local food movement (buying, cooking, and eating!), working out, exploring the Valley, and traveling.
Debbie works hard to strengthen the Jewish community on and off campus, cultivating partnerships between ASU Hillel and BBYO, NFTY, Moishe House Phoenix, AIPAC, JNF, and several local synagogues. Debbie uses these partnerships to bridge the gaps between high school, college, and post-college Jewish life. Debbie also serves on the core team for Hillel International’s Measuring Excellence Program, a group of professionals redefining metrics of excellence for the entire Hillel movement. Outside of the Hillel world, she serves on the Camp Daisy and Harry Stein Advisory board and the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix’s NOWGen Task Force. She is a mentor for the Women’s Jewish Learning Center Women’s Leadership Institute and serves on the board that founded LimmudAZ.
Before coming to ASU, Debbie spent seven years at the University of Pennsylvania Hillel, overseeing a multi-tiered engagement approach to Jewish life on campus. While at Penn, Debbie completed Weinberg ACCELERATE: Hillel’s Executive Training Program. Debbie began her Hillel career at Washington University in St. Louis where she was a Steinhardt Jewish Campus Service Corps Fellow for two years. Originally from Framingham, MA, Debbie holds a B.A. in psychology from Emory University and an M. A. in Higher Education Administration from New York University, where she also worked in residential and fraternity/sorority life and planned a national conference about the Jewish college student experience. Debbie lives in Phoenix, AZ with her husband Ben, son Gabe and daughter Emma. They enjoys supporting the local food movement (buying, cooking, and eating!), working out, exploring the Valley, and traveling.
Rabbi Suzy Stone, Assistant Director
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Contact Rabbi Suzy about...
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Born and raised in Minnesota, Suzy is proud to be among the “frozen chosen” (along with Alaskan Jews of course) who have endured real winters and enjoyed summer days under 100 degrees. When she isn’t busy unpacking Jewish texts or reinventing Jewish tradition, she enjoys cycling, cooking, and comedy. Having lived in Boston, Jerusalem, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and D.C., she is happy to be moving to the Phoenix area where her family now lives part-time.
After graduating from Brandeis University in 2002, with a B.A. in History and Art History, she worked as a community organizer. She set out to become a rabbi as a way to balance her passion for Tikkun Olam (healing the world) with her belief in the need for Tikkun HaNefesh (healing one’s self).
Most recently, Suzy served as a Senior Organizer at the Religious Action Center where she worked with Reform synagogues to restore the vote 1.5 million Floridians. As part of the inaugural cohort of the Jewish Emergent Network, Suzy served as rabbinic fellow at Sixth & I where she created innovative shabbat, holiday, and interfaith programmings for young professionals in the D.C. area.
Before moving to D.C., Rabbi Suzy enjoyed running on the beach and hiking in the mountains of Santa Barbara, where she served for four years as an Associate Rabbi at Congregation B’nai B’rith. She was ordained by the Reform Movement at HUC-JIR in 2012 and is a proud alumna of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship.
After graduating from Brandeis University in 2002, with a B.A. in History and Art History, she worked as a community organizer. She set out to become a rabbi as a way to balance her passion for Tikkun Olam (healing the world) with her belief in the need for Tikkun HaNefesh (healing one’s self).
Most recently, Suzy served as a Senior Organizer at the Religious Action Center where she worked with Reform synagogues to restore the vote 1.5 million Floridians. As part of the inaugural cohort of the Jewish Emergent Network, Suzy served as rabbinic fellow at Sixth & I where she created innovative shabbat, holiday, and interfaith programmings for young professionals in the D.C. area.
Before moving to D.C., Rabbi Suzy enjoyed running on the beach and hiking in the mountains of Santa Barbara, where she served for four years as an Associate Rabbi at Congregation B’nai B’rith. She was ordained by the Reform Movement at HUC-JIR in 2012 and is a proud alumna of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship.
Syvan Diamond, Development Director
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Syvan Diamond is new to the valley, hailing from San Diego, and has a passion for working in the Jewish community. A graduate of San Diego State University and an active participant in Hillel during her time there, Syvan is extremely excited to be part of the Hillel team at ASU. Following graduation, Syvan moved to Israel as part of the Masa Israel Teaching Fellowship, where she spent 10 months in Netanya teaching English to students. After returning to the states, Syvan knew that working for a Jewish organization was where she was meant to be and began her career working for Moishe House. She then transitioned to UC San Diego Hillel before moving to Arizona. Now the Development Director, Syvan is extremely happy and excited to be working at Arizona State Hillel and is looking forward to help give future students the same transformative experiences that she had in college.
Andrew Gibbs, Israel Center Director
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Contact Andrew about...
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Andrew Gibbs joined Hillel in August 2015 as our Israel Education Coordinator through a great partnership with Jewish Arizonans on Campus. This position is generously funded with support from the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix. Although he was born in the Sunshine State, Andrew has been fortunate to call Arizona home for the majority of his life. A graduate of Horizon High School in Scottsdale, Andrew spent his first year after graduation in Israel attending Hebrew University in Jerusalem and doing community work in Be’er Sheva. A die hard Sun Devils fan, Andrew returned to Arizona and graduated from ASU with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and certificates in Jewish Studies and International Relations. During his undergraduate career, Andrew co-founded Sun Devils for Israel (now Students Supporting Israel).
Whether preschool at the JCC, attending Jewish summer camp or in more recent years, holding various leadership positions in numerous local Jewish and pro-Israel organizations, Andrew has been involved in the Jewish community for as long as he can remember. Outside of Hillel, Andrew has previously served on the boards of Ahavas Torah: The Scottsdale Torah Center, Arizona JNFuture, and AIPAC Arizona.
Before joining Hillel, Andrew was a Development Associate for BBYO and taught various classes in Congregation Beth Israel’s Religious School for 8 years. After seeing firsthand the apathy many Jewish young adults have for Israel, he feels privileged to have the opportunity to share his passion for the Jewish homeland through educational, cultural, religious, and social events.
Andrew’s door is always open to talk all things Israel, Judaism, sports, sitcoms, and 80's music. Andrew lives in Scottsdale with his wife Rachel and adorable son Ezra.
Whether preschool at the JCC, attending Jewish summer camp or in more recent years, holding various leadership positions in numerous local Jewish and pro-Israel organizations, Andrew has been involved in the Jewish community for as long as he can remember. Outside of Hillel, Andrew has previously served on the boards of Ahavas Torah: The Scottsdale Torah Center, Arizona JNFuture, and AIPAC Arizona.
Before joining Hillel, Andrew was a Development Associate for BBYO and taught various classes in Congregation Beth Israel’s Religious School for 8 years. After seeing firsthand the apathy many Jewish young adults have for Israel, he feels privileged to have the opportunity to share his passion for the Jewish homeland through educational, cultural, religious, and social events.
Andrew’s door is always open to talk all things Israel, Judaism, sports, sitcoms, and 80's music. Andrew lives in Scottsdale with his wife Rachel and adorable son Ezra.
Mikayla Laufer Stokes, Educational Engagement Director/Ezra Springboard Fellow
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Contact Mikayla about...
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Mikayla is a graduate of Northern Arizona University where she majored in Geology. While completing her degree, Mikayla was involved with NAU’s Alpha Omicron Pi where she served as VP of Academic Development, was a Senior Student Ambassador of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Orientation, and served as “Headmistress” of the Harry Potter Appreciation Club. Mikayla took particular interest in fundraising for Juvenile Arthritis and advocating for funding for higher education in Arizona. While not involved in her local Jewish community in Flagstaff, Mikayla’s annual Purim party and Passover Seder were a hit among her friends.
After graduating from NAU in the spring of 2016, Mikayla spent a year in Israel teaching English at a religious school in Ashdod. During that time, she completed fellowships with the Masa-Jewish Federations of North America, Hillel International, and Birthright Israel. Mikayla also served as a Hillel Shabbat Scholar, working alongside Hillel Professionals on Birthright Israel trips implementing Shabbat programming. It was while in Israel that Mikayla discovered her passion for Jewish education and outreach.
Mikayla grew up as a member of the “frozen chosen” in Alaska and was active in the Anchorage Jewish community from a young age. She’s excited to continue to expand her network in the Phoenix Metropolitan Jewish community and is looking forward to working with students on all things Birthright Israel, Hebrew, Jewish Learning, Student Engagement and Bagels!
Mikayla loves and is always excited to discuss Israel, rocks, her killer Amazon skills, baseball (Go Dodgers!!) and lives in Mesa with her husband Derek and their two fur babies Persie and Sirius.
After graduating from NAU in the spring of 2016, Mikayla spent a year in Israel teaching English at a religious school in Ashdod. During that time, she completed fellowships with the Masa-Jewish Federations of North America, Hillel International, and Birthright Israel. Mikayla also served as a Hillel Shabbat Scholar, working alongside Hillel Professionals on Birthright Israel trips implementing Shabbat programming. It was while in Israel that Mikayla discovered her passion for Jewish education and outreach.
Mikayla grew up as a member of the “frozen chosen” in Alaska and was active in the Anchorage Jewish community from a young age. She’s excited to continue to expand her network in the Phoenix Metropolitan Jewish community and is looking forward to working with students on all things Birthright Israel, Hebrew, Jewish Learning, Student Engagement and Bagels!
Mikayla loves and is always excited to discuss Israel, rocks, her killer Amazon skills, baseball (Go Dodgers!!) and lives in Mesa with her husband Derek and their two fur babies Persie and Sirius.
Kira Singer, Innovation Specialist/Springboard Fellow
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Contact Kira about...
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Kira was born and raised in San Diego, CA. After graduating high school, she decided to make the move across the country to attend college in Ithaca, NY. Kira recently graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Psychology, a concentration in Counseling, and minor in Jewish Studies. Throughout college, Kira had many professional Jewish roles; she was the madricha for a 6th/7th grade class at the local Reform synagogue, the Hebrew TA at Ithaca College, and a Peer Network Engagement Intern for Hillel at Ithaca College. Growing up, Kira spent her summers at URJ Camp Newman where she developed her love for Judaism. Kira loves to travel and experience different aspects of Judaism all around the world! She has lived in California, Israel, New York, and Prague, and is very excited to now live in Scottsdale and be part of the ASU Hillel team!
Sara Schack, Office Manager
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Contact Sara about...
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Sara studied City and Regional Planning at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, on the central coast of California. She has held many leadership roles not only in the college, but in the community as well. She comes with over 15 years of volunteer and work experience with Jewish youth and community members. She grew up attending Congregation Eilat in Mission Viejo, California. She has been a part of a few other synagogues as she relocated from Aliso Viejo to San Luis Obispo and now to Phoenix. She attended Jewish youth group and Jewish leadership camp weekends from 2001-2006. She then followed her passion and became a youth adviser for Jewish youth groups in Mission Viejo and then San Luis Obispo from 2006-2012.
Since moving to Phoenix, Sara has become an integral part of the Jewish community. Her experience with Camp Daisy and Harry Stein was just the start of the great impact she strives to have to be involved and encourage others to be involved in the Jewish community. She is excited to pursue her passion of working in nonprofits by joining the Hillel community.
She currently lives in Phoenix. Her family followed right behind her and has relocated to Phoenix as well. She has a perfect little nephew in Phoenix who was born in 2016. She loves spending time with her nephew and family, running, traveling, working out, attending sporting events, and finding new restaurants around town. Sara currently lives down the street from her family in Ahwatukee with her fur baby Boomer; she is happy to show you pictures of her puppy.
Since moving to Phoenix, Sara has become an integral part of the Jewish community. Her experience with Camp Daisy and Harry Stein was just the start of the great impact she strives to have to be involved and encourage others to be involved in the Jewish community. She is excited to pursue her passion of working in nonprofits by joining the Hillel community.
She currently lives in Phoenix. Her family followed right behind her and has relocated to Phoenix as well. She has a perfect little nephew in Phoenix who was born in 2016. She loves spending time with her nephew and family, running, traveling, working out, attending sporting events, and finding new restaurants around town. Sara currently lives down the street from her family in Ahwatukee with her fur baby Boomer; she is happy to show you pictures of her puppy.
Jason Bronowitz, Rabbinic Intern
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Jason Bronowitz is a fifth-year rabbinic student at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, completing doctorates in Jewish Studies (Spertus Institute) and International Letters and Cultures (ASU). Jason has taught engineering and statistics at Arizona State University since 2007, including serving as chair of entrepreneurship departments at the W. P. Carey School of Business and the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, and as director of ASU Online, and has taught Jewish history at the University of Southern California. He holds master's degrees in Economic Development (2007) and Hebrew Literature (2018), bachelor's degrees in Economics (2006) and Jewish Studies (2018), and a graduate certificate in Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood (2012) from a combination of Binghamton University, Arizona State University and Hebrew Union College. At HUC, Jason was honored with the Lorraine Helman Rubin Memorial Prize for Scholarly Writing and the Louis and Minnie Raphael Memorial Prize for Outstanding Service to a Small Congregation. He served as student rabbi of Congregation Ohr Shalom in Grand Junction, CO, from 2016-2019 and as the Reynolds Family Rabbinic Intern at Congregation Beth Israel in Scottsdale, AZ, since 2016. He has spent ten summers at the URJ Eisner Camp in Great Barrington, MA, ten summers on the leadership team of Camp Stein in Prescott, AZ, and has led over 25 trips to Israel, for engineering and business students and Jewish teens and young adults. Jason launched and directed ASU's entrepreneurship consulting group, funded by JPMorgan Chase, leading consulting projects for over 30 small businesses per year. Prior to joining ASU, Jason worked in economic development and academic advising at Binghamton University.
Mark Vanek, Chef
Mark prepares our Shabbat dinners and weekly lunches, and often provides food for our other classes and programs! He also has a kosher catering business; contact him for more information.
thedancingchef@me.com
Barton Lee, Rabbi Emeritus
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Contact Rabbi Lee if you are an alum or old friend of Hillel! Rabbi Lee is still in town and would love to hear from you! He also is sometimes available for Jewish lifecycle events. bentzion@hillelasu.org |
Rabbi Barton Lee came to Hillel at ASU in 1972 and served as Executive Director for 42 years. He studied at Stanford, Hebrew University, and the Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati where he earned a doctorate. A native of Texas who still celebrates Texas Independence day with students, he loves the desert, the Grand Canyon, ASU students, classical concerts, Israel, politics and sports. But most of all, Rabbi Lee loves ASU students, schmoozing with them, helping with problems, or studying Torah as it relates to our lives.
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