Rabbi Debra Pine, former director of the New Orleans Hillel, which also services Tulane University, has been appointed executive director of Hopkins Hillel and will become the first woman to hold the position at Hopkins.
Pine will take over from the recently resigned Rabbi Etan Mintz on April 6.
Hillel's board selected Pine from among a handful candidates after about two weeks of interviews with students, alumni, donors, faculty, administrators, board members and community members. "Etan resigned, so we were eager to move forward in accepting her into our community," President of the Jewish Students Association and Hillel board member Lauren Fluger said.
Pine's gender did not play into the Hillel board's decision to hire, according to Executive Director for Hillel of Greater Baltimore Beth Gansky.
"Rabbi Pine is incredibly qualified. Her recruitment is entirely based on her outstanding qualifications for the position," she said. "She is a seasoned professional who has a vast background working with the Jewish community and having experience as the director at the Tulane Hillel."
The Reform rabbi was ordained from the Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati after she attended Oberlin College. She also served as the associate Rabbi at Rodef Shalom Congregation in Pittsburgh.
"I think my biggest challenge, and what is exciting and interesting about Hopkins, is that we have a large Orthodox population and there are gender issues that are more of a concern in the Orthodox community than in the liberal Jewish community," Pine said.
Pine said she is not worried about any gender issues because Jewish law is flexible and creates ways to work around problems.
"For this generation, more than our parents, I don't think that the gender issue is as big of a problem," Pine said.
Students involved with Hillel, from all sects of Judaism, are excited to welcome a female Rabbi and are more interested in her credentials than her gender.
"It's great and it's very exciting [to have our first female Executive Director] but I think her positive qualities transcend her gender," Fluger said.
Sophomore Michael Pisem, who was also involved in the interview processes, was very impressed with Pine's Hillel experience.
Pine's goals for the future are to further connect Hillel to the Hopkins community, which includes reaching out to more students.
"One goal is to reach out to both the Jewish and the non-Jewish community and to really create a community that helps every Jewish student find a home," Pine said.
Pine has experience with fundraising. At the New Orleans Hillel she most recently served as the Capital Campaign Director. That experience was another factor that made her attractive to the board.
"Every non-profit organization right now struggles with the economy. We have to think creatively and work hard to secure a quality program," Pine said.
Starting mid-year, Pine does not expect to be able to help the Hillel this year. She will spend this semester meeting students and getting acclimated in the community.
"When the fall semester arrives, we will already know each other and be able to hit the ground running. I think ultimately it is better," she said.
Since 2005, Hillel has had four executive directors. Pine said she plans on staying at Hopkins Hillel for a long time to come.
Pine recently moved to Baltimore after her husband, who is also a rabbi, took a position at a local synagogue.
"We've moved a lot, so we hope never to move again. I love students and I love the campus, so I hope to be there for a really, really long time," Pine said.
