Each year 187,000 Jewish college students connect, grow and learn at their local Hillel. Of those 187,000, just 27 student leaders from across the country were chosen for the inaugural cohort of a brand new Jewish leadership program, two of whom are CNU students.
CNU Hillel Campus Director Julia Downer nominated two student leaders for the program — current president and rising senior Sammy Foosaner, and communications officer-elect and rising sophomore Crowe Hammond — and both were selected.
Of the 850+ campuses Hillel International serves, CNU was one of only 16 campuses chosen to participate in this brand new student leadership pilot program.
CNU's Sammy and Crowe will be joined by fellow students from: Butler University, Clemson University, Cornell College, Drake University, Franklin & Marshall College, Ithaca College, Kansas State University, Rowan University, SUNY Cortland, Trinity College, Union College, University of Arkansas, University of Nebraska, University of South Carolina, Washington State University and Virginia Military Institute.
The inaugural cohort of 27 students will participate in four interactive virtual sessions facilitated by Hillel International's senior staff. While Hillel International offers broader leadership development, this signature program is specifically designed for smaller campuses with Jewish student populations of 250 or fewer — building stronger student leaders and deepening Jewish life where it's needed most.
The students will be guided by an expert coach, to strengthen their leadership, communication and collaboration skills, serving them both on campus and in their careers. Sessions will cover the following topics:
• Leading with Your Strengths in Teams
• Cultivating Belonging & Welcoming
• Collaborating Effectively and Giving & Receiving Feedback
• Defining Your Leadership Purpose
The program empowers students to lead with confidence, shape the future of their campus Hillel and join a dynamic networking of emerging leaders.
The Hillel Leadership Institute is part of Hillel International’s broader commitment to developing and supporting 23,000 student leaders by 2028. Jewish Peninsula, as the sole funder of CNU Hillel is contributing to that goal by ensuring that their next generation of student leaders has the tools and community they need to thrive.
"Jewish Peninsula is proud to be the lead sponsor of CNU Hillel. Investing in the next generation of Jewish leaders is at the heart of everything we do, and we couldn't be more excited to see its growth and potential recognized on the national stage," said Eric Maurer, CEO of Jewish Peninsula, on news of CNU's involvement in the program.
What do our student leaders have to say so far?
“I’ve really enjoyed getting to connect with others and discuss how to handle shared situations and struggles,” shared Crowe Hammond. Alongside Hillel, Crowe has been selected as a CNU Summer Scholar for Jewish Studies under Dr. Vered Sakal.
“It’s been an amazing experience to be able to learn about leadership from and with Jewish excellence, so we can better lead our own communities and build ties with campuses across the country,” commented Sammy Foosaner.
With young leaders like these stepping up, the 187,000 Jewish college students Hillel International serves are in excellent hands — and we're fortunate that two of them are right in our own backyard.