Meet Our Staff

Who's Who in Student Life
	Sara Horowitz, Dean of Student Life, guides the staff with a caring hand and an abundance of energy. She enjoys spending her time working with JTS students and the Office of Student Life. Sara was born and raised in the Washington DC area, but feels truly at home in New York City's Morningside Heights neighborhood. She graduated from the University of Maryland with a BA in Government and Politics, and received an MA and an MEd in Student Affairs Administration from Teachers College, Columbia University.
	Ruth Decalo, Director of Student Life and Community Outreach, helps to facilitate and coordinate the myriad student life and community service initiatives spearheaded by the JTS community. Her personal and professional pursuits before coming to JTS took her around the world, as she worked with youth, refugees, and trade unions. She also worked with domestic Jewish organizations during her time at the Jewish Outreach Institute. Ruth’s always happy to discuss her service in the Peace Corps, local volunteer opportunities, arcane medieval trivia, Harry Potter, international literature, music, and travel.
	Shira Markert, Student Services Office Manager, is the first smiling face you will see as you enter the Office of Student Life. She grew up in New Jersey and began working at JTS soon after graduating from New York University in 2003 with a BA in Judaic Studies. Shira loves working with JTS students.
Jewish Life Directors The Jewish Life directors (JLDs) help create and foster community in the Mathilde Schechter, Goldsmith, and Brush residence halls through Jewish cultural, religious, and educational programming; home hospitality; and their daily interactions with residents. Have a question about Judaism or Jewish life in New York City? Ask your JLD and he/she will help you find the answer.
	Ravid Tilles and Yaffa Garber Tilles, List College Jewish Life Directors, are excited to be part of the Student Life team. Ravid, originally from Maryland, is a fourth-year student at The Rabbinical School, taking a concentration in Clinical Pastoral Education. Ravid graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with bachelor's in Arts and Social Work. Yaffa, originally from Boston, is studying for her master's degree in Social Work at Yeshiva University, and is an alumna of the List College Double Degree program with Barnard College. She received a BA in Bible from JTS and a BA in American Studies from Barnard. Yaffa and Ravid met at United Synagogue Youth, and have been married for more than two years. They love to dance, play board games, watch TV and movies, and play Guitar Hero. They look forward to getting to know all of List College's students.
	Orrin Krublit, Graduate-Level Jewish Life Director, is delighted to be part of the Student Life team. He grew up in Orlando and attended the Jewish Academy of Orlando. Orrin's high school years were spent at the American Hebrew Academy, where he later became a fellow. He graduated from the University of Florida with a BA in Jewish Studies. Orrin was the rosh mashgiah in the JTS Dining Hall during the summer of 2012. He is a second- year student at The Rabbinical School, and loves Judaism, board games, all kinds of television, and his work as the  graduate-level Jewish Life director of JTS.