H

illel at the University of 
Michigan kicks off the fall 
semester with a national 
search for a new executive director 
following the announcement in July 
that Tilly Shemer, who had held the 
post for the 15 years, had accepted 
a new position as senior vice pres-
ident of Wellspring at the Shalom 
Hartman Institute North America.
In a statement released to the JN, 
Hillel Board President Abbey Frank 
said that during this interim period, 
the Michigan Hillel calendar is full 
with religious, social and educational 

programs and resources for new 
and returning students. 
She wrote: “
As we search for 
a new director, Hillel at the 
University of Michigan is backed 
by the commitment of its board 
members, who are a diverse 
group in terms of Jewish reli-
gious expression, age, geogra-
phy and skills. For guidance 
in the search and selection 
process of a new director, we 
are speaking with chairs of 
other large Hillel chapters 
around the country that have 

recently conducted executive 
director searches.
” 
She added: “In the inter-
im, we have a deep bench of 
current professionals and lay 
leaders, and there will be no 
disruption in services, programs, 
meals and religious services.
” 
Frank, of Rockville, Maryland, 
graduated from Michigan in 1993 
and received her MSW and MPA 
from Columbia University. She and 
her husband, Rabbi Marc Israel, 
originally from Birmingham, Mich., 
and who graduated from Michigan 
in 1992, have three children. Her 
oldest graduated from the university 
last spring. 
New in her position as board pres-
ident, this is Frank’s third year on the 
Hillel board. Frank wrote that some 

Longtime Executive Director Tilly Shemer’s 
departure leaves an opening at 
University of Michigan Hillel.

Search Launched

Abbey 
Frank

46 | AUGUST 17 • 2023 

Stacy Gittleman } Contributing Writer

Tilly 
Shemer

for college students 
by college students

