Staff

Rabbi Stephanie Max, Executive Director

Rabbi Max is thrilled to be joining the Texas Hillel family in late July 2023. Born in Dallas and raised in Rochester, New York, Rabbi Max has a love for hot summers and snowy winters – but she’ll survive without the latter.

Rabbi Max has served as the Associate Director at Brandeis Hillel for the past five years, working alongside students and staff to transform the organization, growing student engagement and programming, strengthening university partnerships, expanding the professional staff, and launching new program initiatives. She recently participated in fellowships with the Avodah Institute for Social Change and the Shalom Hartman Institute.

Rabbi Max previously served as Associate Director & Director of Content for Convergence on Campus, Program Director of the Interfaith Youth Initiative, and Rabbinic Fellow at Tufts Hillel. Rabbi Max received ordination in 2019 from Hebrew College.

During rabbinical school, she spent two years in Israel, studying at the Conservative Yeshiva, Pardes, the Shalom Hartman Institute, and BINA, where she also taught in their post-college program. Rabbi Max holds a BA in Sociocultural Anthropology and Hispanic Language and Literature from Boston University.

Prior to attending rabbinical school, Rabbi Max was a chef in Boston, Austin, and Upstate New York. She is always happy to share recipes and stories! Rabbi Max and her husband, Andrew Max, are excited to get to know the Austin Jewish community. Andrew is an avid football fan and is eager to cheer on the Longhorns and help the rabbi understand what’s happening during the game.

She looks forward to getting settled in Austin and working with our students, staff, lay leaders, and community members.

Email: smax@texashillel.org

Jordenne Parker, Assistant Director

Jordenne grew up in Southern California, but considers Austin to be home. She served as the Operations Manager with Texas Hillel for almost two years before transitioning to Assistant Director in July 2020. Jordenne has an extensive background in student affairs, operations, and event planning, and is excited to use this knowledge to continue serving students at Texas Hillel!

Jordenne earned both her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and her Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administration from UT. She began her professional career as an Academic Counselor in the Athletics Department at UT, where she was responsible for operations, event planning, student resources, programming, and academic advising for student-athletes. She then went on to serve as part of the Masa Israel Teaching Fellows 2017-2018 cohort in Netanya, Israel, where she was able to participate in Masa’s leadership programming and the Masa Hillel Fellowship.

Jordenne completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training in June 2019 and loves helping others connect with yoga in a way that helps them feel good. In her free time, you’ll find her spending time with her dog, Pancake, swimming laps, practicing pilates and yoga, trying to speak Hebrew, cheering on the Longhorns, and appreciating all the breakfast tacos Austin has to offer.

Email: jparker@texashillel.org

Rabbi Andy Weissfeld, Rabbi & Senior Jewish Educator

Rabbi Andy grew up in Pittsburgh, PA. but considers many places, including Washington DC, New York City, Jerusalem, Palmer (MA) and Austin second homes. He earned his Rabbinic ordination and a Masters in Jewish Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) in May 2023. While at JTS, Andy served as a Rabbinic Fellow at Hunter Hillel and Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action. He also interned at Congregation Beth El in Vorhees, NJ and as a Chaplain for survivors of elder abuse with the Jewish Association Serving the Aging in Brooklyn. Rabbi Andy graduated from University of Maryland, with a degree in Jewish Studies and Sociology. It was at Hillel, where Andy met many of the people who would become his close friends. Following a couple years of Hillel BBQs, spring break trips, and shabbat onegs, those same friends convinced Andy to work with them at Camp Ramah, where he has served as a unit head for the last seven summers. Lastly, Rabbi Andy had the chance to learn and live in Israel twice, once after high-school with the Nativ gap year program and, more recently, at the Conservative Yeshiva and JTS from 2019-2020.

In his free time, Andy loves to cook, root for his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers, watch sci-fi TV, and go on walks, runs, or bike rides. He lives in East Austin with his fiance Emma and his super friendly dog Derek.

Email: aweissfeld@texashillel.org

Cheryl Fulton, PhD, Director of Community Care & Wellness

Cheryl is excited to join Texas Hillel starting Fall 2024. She was born and raised in Miami, Florida and has lived in Colorado and North Carolina, but has called Austin home for 11 years.

Cheryl has most recently been an Associate Professor in the Professional Counseling Program at Texas State University where she trained clinical mental health counselors. She has been a passionate scholar researching and educating on topics such as mindfulness and self-compassion. More recently she has pivoted to Jewish identity and antisemitism with the intent of preparing counselors to work more competently with Jewish clients.

She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas with 10 years of counseling experience and has contributed advice on mental health topics to media such as the Huffington Post, The Atlantic, NBCnews.com, Yahoo! Life, and Psychology Today.

She earned a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from The University of North Carolina-Greensboro, a B.S. in Psychology and an M.Ed./Ed.S. in Counseling from the University of Florida, and an M.B.A. from the University of Colorado-Denver.

She currently lives in Austin with her husband Jeff and Shih Tzu named Lui, and is the proud parent of two current Longhorns. She loves the outdoors, traveling, cooking, and time with family.

Cheryl is excited to work with Hillel staff and UT to support student wellness and Jewish engagement on campus. Her door is always open, and she is eager to support students as they navigate this meaningful and exciting time in their lives.

Email: cfulton@texashillel.org

Ayala Huber, Operations Manager

Ayala grew up in Houston, Texas and is a proud Texas Ex. She studied Government and Middle Eastern Studies before graduating from UT in 2019. She previously served as the Shabbat chair on our Student Executive Cabinet and as the Jewish Student Life Intern during her time as a student at Texas Hillel. Ayala has been active in the Austin Jewish community since her time as a student and looks forward to the opportunity to continue to serve the community through Hillel.

Email: ahuber@texashillel.org

Helaine Wolf, Development and Family & Alumni Relations Manager

Helaine is a proud second generation Longhorn. Fourteen members of her family have attended the University of Texas at Austin, including all four of her sons. Helaine holds a B.A. in marketing from McCombs and had a long career in mall marketing and management before starting her own customer service and mystery shopping company. After years of extensive volunteering for various Jewish organizations, PTAs and Booster Clubs, Helaine joined Texas Hillel in 2018. She can often be found at Shabbat spoiling our students with extra challah. Plus, her brownies are legendary at Hillel.

Email: hwolf@texashillel.org

Sade Storthz, IACT Director of Israel and Community Engagement.

Sade is beginning her third year with Texas Hillel and is taking on a new title as the IACT Director of Israel and Community Engagement. She has loved every minute of her time in Austin! She was born and raised in Arkansas and studied English and Education at the University of Virginia, where she became very involved with their Hillel.

Sade has travelled around the world, has tried hot chocolate in over 20 countries, and lived in Tel Aviv prior to joining the Texas Hillel team. She loves long walks around Ladybird Lake and hosting tea parties. So, if you want to walk/run, spill some חי tea, travel with her (#Birthright) or be in a Hillel Tik Tok-reach out!

Email: sstorthz@texashillel.org

Evelyn Plonsker, Springboard Ezra Fellow

Evelyn is from Westchester, New York and spent her college years at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor where she studied history and art history. Evelyn developed a love for Jewish learning and community as a teenager in her rabbi’s weekly dinner study group and continued to pursue this passion at Michigan Hillel where she served as Education Coordinator and hosted many Shabbat dinners with friends.

Evelyn followed this love for Jewish learning to Jerusalem this past year, where she immersed herself in full time text study and communal life at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies. She learned so much about the sources of Jewish tradition and the broad spectrum of Jewish life, but mostly she learned how much there still is to learn.

Evelyn is beyond excited to join the Texas Hillel team in Austin this August! She can’t wait to get to know all the students and learn, chat, and try every campus-adjacent coffee shop together! Outside of Hillel, Evelyn can be found attempting to cook new recipes in her apron, running to Taylor Swift songs, and picnicking in the park with a good book.

Email: eplonsker@texashillel.org

Or Shalev, Jewish Agency Israel Fellow to Texas Hillel

Hey everyone! I’m Or, coming at you from Tel-Aviv! Growing up in a diverse Jewish household, instilled in me a deep appreciation for unity and celebrating our shared heritage.

My journey started in the Israeli army, where I engaged in various cultural initiatives alongside data security, blending my passion for education with a commitment to Israel and the IDF. After completing my BA in Mass Communication at Tel Aviv University, I delved into the dynamic world of digital marketing, where I prioritized open dialogues and embraced new ideas.

Last summer, I had the incredible opportunity to be a counselor at a Jewish Summer Camp in the US, solidifying my passion for fostering growth and cultural understanding. Now, I’m eager to bring that same energy to Texas Hillel!

When I’m not working, you can find me exploring urban trails for outdoor adventures, enjoying music events and festivals with friends, and immersing myself in art galleries and mindfulness practices.

As I bid Tel Aviv farewell, I’m thrilled to embrace a new chapter filled with tacos, tunes, and Texas-sized hospitality! I can’t wait to meet you all, share Israel through my own eyes and enrich the Jewish community on campus with my unique perspectives and experiences. Let’s make unforgettable memories together!

Email: oshalev@texashillel.org