Professional/Year Round Staff

Executive Director, Rena Convissor
In 1980 Rena was an AJSS volunteer in Jeanerette, LA, and in 1984 served as a counselor in Dahlonega, GA. Prior to becoming the organization’s first professional executive director in 2007, Rena was the deputy executive director and vice president for finance and operations at the Center for the Advancement of Health, a Washington, DC, - based health policy institute. She has more than 15 years of experience in building and transforming nonprofit organizations, as both a volunteer and as a manager. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to contact Rena.

Program Associate, Rafi Glazer
Rafi grew up mostly in New Jersey, where he experienced all facets of Jewish living: Jewish day school, USY and Camp Ramah. After graduating from the University of Rochester with dual degrees in Political Science and Middle Eastern studies, Rafi moved to Washington D.C., to participate in the fellowship program of PANIM: The Institute for Jewish leadership and Values. At its conclusion, Rafi joined AJSS in the Fall of 2009. Rafi is also a Kadima advisor and teaches Hebrew school. In 2010 Rafi was named one of 20 emerging Jewish educators in the D.C. Jewish Community. He is also getting his Masters in Jewish Communal Service from the Baltimore Hebrew Institute of Towson University.
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to contact Rafi.

Summer Program Staff

Our summer programs are led by a team of dynamic professionals who are committed to service and learning with teens and being role models. Our staff comes from a wide range of background and interests. In past years, our staff has included school teachers, graduate students, community activists, youth directors, and others with experience working with teenagers in informal and experiential educational settings. We recruit widely for individuals that are able to meet our high standards for excellence and who bring unique skills, talents and experiences to the AJSS community.


Some of our recent staff members include:

Ethan Witkovsky is from Madison, Wisconsin, and a graduate of Oberlin College with majors in Classical Civilizations, Jewish studies and Ultimate Frisbee. Ethan is a rabbinical student at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.  He is currently living in Jerusalem working on a Masters degree in Talmud and coaching for Ultimate Peace a non-profit group teaching ultimate Frisbee to Palestinian and Israeli youth.

Shoshana Brownstein grew up in Palm Harbor, Florida. After spending a year studying and volunteering in Israel on the Nativ College/Leadership Program, Shoshana moved to New York to attend school at the Joint Program between Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary.  Shosh spent her summers during college traveling around the United States and Israel as a staff member for various United Synagogue Youth Programs.  Shosh is currently pursuing a Master's in Social Work at Hunter College in New York City.

Danny Devries graduated from the University of Michigan in 2008, majoring in Economics and Political Studies with minors in Asian and Judaic Studies.  After graduating, he traveled the world for 10 months, through the Middle East, including 5 weeks in Israel, and Asia, where he volunteered with an Israeli international development organization Tevel b'Tzedek in Nepal.  Danny has 14 years of Jewish summer camp experience, including leading a 7 week bus trip, from Detroit to Alaska and back.  A native Detroiter, Danny currently works for a non-profit in downtown Detroit.

Willa Deitch is a graduate of Clark where she majored in English and then received a Master's in Teaching. At Clark, Willa was awarded a scholarship to attend Clark for her participation in community service programs throughout high school.  She continued her social justice work while in Worcester.  Willa is currently an Americorps member at a Charter School in Philadelphia, for out of school youth ages 18-21.