Meet Our Director

The Office of Alumni Affairs is here to support and connect JTS alumni with one another and with the many opportunities and resources JTS offers. We hope you’ll stay in touch, share news, and contact us at any time. 

Joel Alter

Joel Alter

Rabbi, Congregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid (Milwaukee, WI); Former Director of Admissions, The JTS Rabbinical School and H. L. Miller Cantorial School

Director of Admissions, The Rabbinical School and H. L. Miller Cantorial School

Rabbi Joel Alter earned a BA in Jewish History from Columbia University, an MA from The Davidson School of Education, and rabbinic ordination from The Rabbinical School. Rabbi Alter previously served pluralistic day schools in Washington, DC, Baltimore, and Boston over 16 years as a teacher, assistant head of school, and Rav Beit haSefer.

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Melissa Friedman

Melissa Friedman

Director of Alumni Affairs

Director of Alumni Affairs

As director of the Office of Alumni Affairs, Melissa Friedman works closely with JTS’s senior leadership and drives JTS’s alumni relations efforts. In her time as director, Melissa has revitalized JTS’s relationship with alumni spanning more than six decades. She engages alumni through social and professional networking opportunities nationwide, and welcomes the opportunity to hear from alumni who want to plan a reunion. Melissa continues to cultivate relationships between alumni and current students. She collaborates with student group leaders and deans to create and provide meaningful encounters between the two. Melissa strives to develop and maintain close relationships between alumni from all of our schools—degree and non-degree programs—and JTS. 

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