Allison Adges grew up in Syosset, New York. After high school, Allison participated in Young Judaea’s Year Course where she studied and volunteered in Israel. She has spent five summers working at Young Judaea’s regional camps in New York and Wisconsin, transitioning from Counselor to Unit Head to Program Director, and participated in the Foundation for Jewish Camp’s Launch Pad Fellowship. After graduating from Binghamton University with a degree in Judaic Studies, Allison moved to Washington, DC where she worked to create innovative religious and cultural programs for Jewish young professionals at the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue. After two years in DC, Allison returned to New York City to join the staff at Kehilat Romemu, a progressive, spiritual Jewish center on the Upper West Side. Aside from Jewish education, some of Allison’s favorite things are chocolate, post-It notes, and the New York Rangers, and can often be found playing barefoot Frisbee on the nearest grassy field.

Mollie Shira Andron recently finished working at the Jewish Education Project as a Coalition Educator and helped support synagogues in creating innovative educational models. Prior to that she worked at the Heschel school for 2 1/2 years as a kindergarten and second grade teacher. Mollie is also a freelance environmental educator with The TEVA Learning Alliance and works as a performer with Storahtelling. She is involved in writing Jewish garden curriculum with the Kayam farm and last year toured a puppet show based on a Rabbi Nachman story called the "Master of Prayer." When not busy running around she loves camping, hiking, visiting museums, drinking tea, singing, and spending time with friends and family. She is super excited to begin the experiential MA program at JTS.

Allison Belmont Conn (Allie) is from Bala Cynwyd, PA, a suburb of Philadelphia. She graduated in 2010 with distinction from Penn State University (WE ARE!), where she majored in Public Relations and minored in Hebrew, Psychology, and International Studies. As an undergraduate, Allie spent a semester studying at Tel Aviv University, and participated in the JESNA Lainer Internship program. After graduating, she served as a Berman Fellow at the University of Michigan Hillel for two years, where she focused on engagement and programming, and led four Taglit-Birthright Israel trips. In high school, she was active in United Synagogue Youth as a chapter president and regional convention co-chair. Allie is an alumnus of Alexander Muss High School in Israel and the Pardes Institute Summer Educators’ Track. Allie is definitely a product of overnight summer camp, where she went as a camper for 6 years, and has since worked in various positions at 3 different camps for 5 more years. Because of her experiences, Allie understands and preaches the importance of immersive experiences, and is particularly interested in summer camp, Hillel work, and Israel Education. When she's not working to build relationships and form important life experiences, Allie loves to sing, hang with friends and family, groove to music, and watch the Phillies win!

Debra Fricano, from Queens/Roslyn, NY, received a B.A in Sociology from Brandeis University in 2010, with minors in Peace and Coexistence, Women’s and Gender Studies and Education Studies. She has worked as a sleep-away camp counselor and guitar playing song/prayer leader, Sunday School classroom teacher, and Community Organizer for economic justice and human rights legislation. Inspired by her experience participating in AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corps in Chicago, she hopes to engage young Jews through interfaith social justice initiatives. Debra is also interested in a cappella singing, dancing, and Buddhist mindfulness meditation. This past summer, Debra Fricano was tge Senior Staff song leader at JCC Camp Sabra in Rocky Mount, Missouri.

Rachel Herman was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, but was primarily raised in the south. Her family currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee. She graduated from Indiana University in the spring of 2011 with degrees in Judaic studies and international studies, with a focus on Middle Eastern communication. Rachel is a recipient of Indiana University’s Borns Jewish Studies department’s Leonore and Louis Piser Prize, awarded to students looking to pursue a career in Jewish Studies. Rachel attended Ramah Darom for seven years as a camper and since then has spent six summers at Darom as a staff member, the past two of which she has been a Rosh Edah (unit head). She just finished up the year working for the NATIV gap year program for North American high school graduates in Israel, which is under the auspices of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. Rachel is very excited to begin her graduate degree at The Davidson School. She is very passionate about experiential education and is looking forward to starting her formal academic training in this field.

Josh Jacobs has spent the past three years as a Group Leader for the American Jewish World Service, leading programs for 16-24 year olds in developing parts of Africa and Central America. He has also led similar programs for Jewish Funds for Justice in New Orleans for middle school, high school and college students and their families. Before leading Jewish service-learning programs, Josh spent many years at Habonim Dror's Camp Galil, holding positions of Technical Director, Tiyul (trip) Director and Ropes Course Specialist. Through his hometown shul in Millburn, N.J., he has been a Hebrew school teacher, Shabbat youth service leader and Mitzvah Clown. Josh enjoys bike commuting, ultimate frisbee, softball and gymnastics. He is a first degree black belt in karate through Tora Dojo and is tied for a world record in bowling. He graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in philosophy.

Myra Meskin grew up in Los Angeles, California and received her B.A. in Communications from the University of California, San Diego. Throughout her youth she attended Jewish day school, participated and was on the board of her USY chapter, and found a second home at Camp Ramah in California. After beginning her journey with Ramah at the age of two, for family camp, Myra continued to attend each summer as camper and eventually began her work as a Jewish educator in her roles as a counselor, special programs coordinator, teacher, and unit head. It is as a result of her love and passion for Jewish camping that Myra is pursuing a career in Jewish experiential education, and she is thrilled that the Davidson School at JTS has created a program with this focus, helping her to achieve her goals. During the camp off-season, Myra enjoys practicing yoga, reading for pleasure, video chatting with her sister in Jerusalem, hiking, biking, and generally being outdoors in the California sunshine. Although the New York weather will be a bit of change, Myra is excited to begin her studies at JTS and is especially looking forward to being a part of the second cohort of Kesher Hadash !

Mollie Sharfman, originally from Baltimore, Maryland, graduated from Stern College for Women with a BA in English Literature, after attending Midreshet Harova Advanced Torah Academy for Women in the Old City of Jerusalem for a year. She has been involved in Jewish Experiential education for as long as she can remember! It all started in Camp Shoresh in Frederick, Maryland and she has been going ever since! Mollie is very excited to be leading the National Conference of Synagogue Youth JOLT program for her second summer, where she will be taking a select group of teenagers to Poland, Germany, and Israel for a leadership and heritage experience of a lifetime. She is very excited to be joining the 2012-2013 Davidson experiential Master’s cohort.

Jackie Schreiber grew up in Oyster Bay, New York and graduated from Emory University with a degree in Middle Eastern Studies and Journalism. Her passion for Judaism and Israel comes from her experiences at the URJ Eisner Camp, where she spent eleven summers as both a camper and counselor. During college, she spent a semester studying abroad in Jerusalem, and the year after college volunteering throughout peripheral Israel with OTZMA. She has worked at Central Synagogue as one of their full-time educators for the past two years, teaching and developing curriculum for both children and adults. She’s also worked at the ISEF Foundation, a non-profit that gives higher education scholarships to Israelis, and interned at the Israeli Consulate in Atlanta during college. She loves to travel and explore new cultures, whether volunteering, studying, or just having fun!

Originally from River Edge, NJ, Ilana Sidorsky graduated from Brandeis University with a BA in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies and in Sociology. While at Brandeis, Ilana enjoyed interning at the National Center for Jewish Film and teaching at various Jewish supplementary schools. Ilana continues her work as a division head at Camp Ramah in Nyack, New York where she fostered her passion for experiential learning. An avid traveler, Ilana explored eight countries during her semester abroad in Prague, Czech Republic. Ilana is thrilled to return to New York as part of the Jewish Experiential Education cohort and looks forward to her semester in Israel with the Kesher Hadash program.

Brianna Spatz was born and raised in Davie, Florida where she attended David Posnack Hebrew Day School. She continued her studies at Brandeis University where she majored in Psychology and Near Eastern Judaic Studies with a minor in Hebrew Language and Literature. While at Brandeis, she enjoyed being active in the Brandeis Reconstructionist Organization, leading her Ultimate Frisbee team to victory, and having Shabbat dinner with her friends. During the summers, she can be found enjoying her time in the Pocono Mountains at Camp JRF. In her free time, she loves to bake, do arts and crafts, and horseback ride.

A bona fide child of the Tri-State Area, Alex Willick was born in Bergen County, NJ, raised in Westport, Connecticut, and subsequently lived in New York City. He graduated from Colgate University in 2009 where he studied music and philosophy, both of which continue to be passionate areas of study. He has spent the last few years working in the Jewish community in New York City and abroad, including a year and a half at UJA-Federation of New York, some time at Heeb Magazine, and a year of service to Israel as a member of Project Otzma. Alex is also a musician, writer, and photographer, and thoroughly enjoys a nice cheese plate.