Partner Institutions
The New York State Center for Educational Civil Discourse is led by a Steering Committee of stakeholders of partner institutions convened by the Governor's Executive Chamber.
Partner institutions include:
- The City University of New York
- The State University of New York
- The Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU)
- The New York State Education Department
- New York City Public Schools
- New York State’s Division of Human Rights
- The Center for Jewish History
- UJA-Federation NY
- The Jewish Community Relations Council of New York
Steering Committee
The Steering Committee is charged with guiding the Center’s strategic direction and initiatives for the year.
Members include:
- Gavriel Rosenfeld, President, Center for Jewish History
- Hindy Poupko, Vice President, UJA-Federation of New York
- Mark Treyger, CEO, JCRC-NY
- Dr. Diane Wynne, Executive Director, New York State Education Department (NYSED)
- Rachel Stephenson, Chief Transformation Officer, The City University of New York (CUNY)
- Tracie Benjamin-Van Lierop, Deputy of the Office of Organization, Development, Talent & Culture, New York City Public Schools
- Denise Miranda, Commissioner, Division of Human Rights (DHR)
- David Harris, President, Union College
- John Nader, former President, Farmingdale State College (SUNY) (Co-Chair)
- Lola Brabham, President, Commission on Independent Colleges & Universities (CICU)
- Marvin Krislov, President, Pace University (Co-Chair)
- Maria Fernandez, Esq., Deputy Secretary for Education
- Ileana Infante, Assistant Secretary for Education
- Danielle McMullen, Assistant Secretary for Education
- James Garcia, Assistant Secretary for Constituency
- Philip Bracey, Assistant Secretary for Public Safety
- Eva J. Wyner, Deputy Director of Jewish Affairs
- Jacob Adler, Director of Jewish Affairs
P-12 Working Group
The Chamber also convened working groups focused on the following subject areas: P-12 and Higher Education. Members of the working groups provide expertise, support, and guidance across various aspects of the Center’s work. Guided by the Governor’s Jewish Affairs and Education Teams, these groups collaborate to advance the Center for Educational Civil Discourse's mission.
The priorities of the P-12 Working Group include:
- In collaboration with the New York State Education Department, reviewing and revising the existing K-12 Holocaust curricula, resources and teacher training materials aimed at addressing anti-hate and antisemitism.
- Revise and update educational resources and proposing how resources can be made accessible and tailored to educators, policymakers and community leaders.
Members include:
- Mark Treyger, CEO, JCRC-NY
- Dr. Diane Wynne, Executive Director, New York State Education Department
- Tracie Benjamin-Van Lierop New York City Public Schools
- Sydney Altfield, Executive Director, TeachNYS
- Yeruchim Silber, Director of Government Relations, Agudath Israel of America
- Sara Seligson, Senior Managing Director Jewish Education Project
- Stefanie Singer, Education Director, Anti-Defamation League (ADL)
- Mike Cohen, Eastern Director, Simon Wiesenthal Center
- Avi Posnick, Managing Director, StandWithUs Northeast Region
- Dr. Laura Shaw Frank, Director of Contemporary Jewish Life, American Jewish Committee (AJC)
- Andrea Fleishaker, Planning Director, UJA Federation of New York
- Myra Clark-Siegel, Regional Director, American Jewish Committee (AJC)
- Rabbi Bob Kaplan, Executive Director of the Center for Shared Society, JCRC-NY
- Jennifer Goss, Director, Holocaust Education Programs, ADL New York/New Jersey
- Steve Goldberg, Director of Education, Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center
- Debbie Minchin, Coordinator of Student Programming, Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center
- Janice Shorenstein, Former CEO, Hadassah Women's Organization
- Rochel Klionsky, Jewish Education Project
- Ira Glasser, AJC
- Rabbi Jennifer Goldsmith, Vice President, Education & Visitor Services, Museum of Jewish Heritage
Higher Education Working Group
The priorities of the Higher Education Working Group include:
- Review and identify resources that can provide scholastic materials or historical context around concerns related to antisemitism on college campuses
- Explore contemporary trends, historical context, and socioeconomic and political factors
- Identify methodologies to increase awareness, enhance civil discourse and foster interfaith and inter-community dialogue
- Develop model policy recommendations to combat hate and discrimination on college campuses
- Identify and recommend best practices for fostering civil discourse and combating hate and antisemitism.
Members include:
- Hindy Poupko, Vice President, UJA-Federation of New York
- Rachel Stephenson, Chief Transformation Officer, The City University of New York
- Denise Miranda, Commissioner, Division of Human Rights
- John Nader, President, Farmingdale State College (SUNY)
- Lola Brabham, President, Commission on Independent Colleges & Universities (CICU)
- Marvin Krislov, President, Pace University
- Sara Coodin, Director of Academic Affairs, American Jewish Committee (AJC)
- Julia Jassey, CEO, Jewish On Campus
- Rabbi Danielle Leshaw, Campus Support Director, Hillel International
- Scott Richman, Regional Director, Anti-Defamation League (ADL) NY/NJ
- Etzion Neuer, Managing Director, Strategy for Combating Antisemitism, UJA-Federation of New York
- Sara Fredman Aeder, Director of Israel and Jewish Affairs, JCRC-NY
- Claire Miller, Vice President for Education Policy, Commission on Independent Colleges & Universities (CICU)
- Josh Kramer, Regional Director, American Jewish Committee (AJC)
- Abby Knopp, Managing Director, UJA-Federation of New York
- Reuben Berman, Director, Campus Support & Action Implementation, Hillel International