The people are what make UMBC Hillel special.
Our students, staff and board members work in partnership to foster opportunities for folks to openly explore Jewish tradition and discern it’s impact on their life.
Find us on Facebook and Instagram (@umbchillel), share a cup of coffee or lunch with our staff or student interns (on us of course!), and attend a program or two.
Our offices are located in the newest and shiniest building on campus, the Center for Wellbeing, which is located across the street from Erickson Field.
Aliza Silverman (she/her), Executive Director
Aliza Silverman is honored to be UMBC Hillel’s Executive Director after serving as Interim Campus Director last year. After growing up in Short Hills, NJ, Aliza started her journey as a Marylander when she came down to earn her B.A. in Jewish Studies at the University of Maryland, College Park. At UMD, she was highly involved in multiple areas of Hillel as she led pluralism initiatives and performed with Avirah Israeli Dance Company. Aliza further pursued her desire to spread Jewish joy and community by serving as a youth group advisor, summer camp educator, and USY convention volunteer.
Aliza knew that the Jewish professional world was her calling; she joined our team after graduation in 2019 as an Engagement Associate and later Director of Jewish Student Life. Over the past five years, Aliza has expanded Hillel’s program offerings, created new leadership roles, and increased the number of students Hillel has found on campus. As the Jewish community grows, she is excited to continue working with campus administrators and faculty to build bridges for dialogue and advocate for Jewish students’ needs. Aliza is currently working on an M.A. in Jewish Professional Studies at the Spertus Institute and has been able to apply what she has learned on the job as she goes.
Outside of Hillel, Aliza enjoys sourdough baking, Israeli dance, and exploring Baltimore City’s offerings.
Email: asilverman@umbc.edu
Danielle Baron (she/her), Assistant Director
Danielle Baron joined the UMBC Hillel team in August of 2021, and she is excited to take on the role of Assistant Director of UMBC Hillel. Danielle grew up in Wayne, NJ, and holds a B.S. in Integrated Elementary and Special Education from the University of Hartford. She has a passion for working with students and taught Hebrew School during her university years. She also enjoys traveling, learning, meeting new people, participating in sports, and immersing herself in new cultures.
After graduating in 2017, Danielle worked for Hillel Ontario as a Program Coordinator and then moved to Illinois for an Engagement Associate position with Illini Hillel at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She has staffed 6 Birthright trips, attended a Birthright Israel Fellows Training, and participated in a Sipurim trip to Israel in March of 2024 led by Hillel International.
Danielle coordinates events for UMBC Hillel, runs an Israel Learning Cohort, and meets with Israel professionals on various campuses. She loves traveling with her Israeli significant other and would be delighted to connect with UMBC students and alumni over Zoom, Starbucks, or lunch on Hillel.
Email: dhb@umbc.edu
Lisa Huberman (they/them), Social Action Engagement Associate
Lisa Huberman is a Jewish educator, artist, activist, and plant parent. They were born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio, and spent over a decade in New York City making theatre and Jewish ritual in both large institutions and grassroots communities. Most recently, Lisa was Assistant Director of Schools, K-12 at Adas Israel Congregation in Washington, DC, and before that they were a full-time educator at Congregation Beth Elohim in Brooklyn, NY. Lisa also spent several years teaching college-level writing at Rutgers University and CUNY Start.
Lisa received their BA in Theatre from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois and completed an MFA in Playwriting from Rutgers University. As part of the Kesher Hadash program at the Jewish Theological Seminary, Lisa studied multi-narrative Israel education in Jerusalem, and received ordination as Maggid (Jewish storyteller) at Havurah Shir Hadash in Ashland, Oregon. Other Jewish organizations where Lisa has learned and facilitated include Malkhut Queens, SVARA, Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, The National Havurah Institute, and Avodah.
Lisa is excited to join UMBC Hillel as the new Social Action Engagement Associate, and use their diverse range of experience to empower the next generation of Jewish leaders.
Email: lhuberm1@umbc.edu