Betty Sugarman Joins as Pre-Law Personal Statement Writing Coach, New Faces in YU Offices
Yeshiva University hired several new staff members for the upcoming academic year to fill vacancies and bolster departments.
Samantha Hitt, who previously worked as the Executive Assistant to the Head of School at MTA, will be joining the Dean’s Office as the new Senior Academic Administrator, starting this week. She replaces Yehudis Isenberg, who joined the Drisha Institute as Director of Operations after working in the Dean’s Office since 2012 and in YU since 2005.
Dr. Betty Sugarman is joining the Academic Advising Department as a Personal Statement Writing Coach. According to a recent email from Wilf Pre-Professional Advising Director Lolita Wood-Hill and Beren Academic and Pre-Law Advisor Ilana Milch, “Sugarman has been hired to assist students applying to law school in the 2018-2019 cycle with their personal statements. She will be available to work with applicants on an individual basis starting in September.”
Sugarman joins the staff following the departure of Wilf campus Pre-Law Advisor Dina Chelst and the subsequent promotion of Ms. Wood-Hill, who previously served as the pre-health advisor for many years, to serve in an advising role for both pre-med and pre-law students.
Dr. Sugarman previously served as an independent consultant in various capacities, and currently teaches leadership and strategic communications graduate courses at Columbia University. She will work with pre-law students from both campuses.
Erika Shechter was recently hired as an Academic Advisor in Yeshiva College. Schechter earned a bachelors from SUNY Binghamton and a masters of social work from Columbia University’s School of Social Work. She has spent the past seven years in Israel working in both government and nonprofit social service agencies, in addition to working as an ‘Eim Bayit’ for a post-high school yeshiva. She is “absolutely thrilled to be joining such an inspiring team of people at YU.”
Mechal Haas was recently appointed Senior Director of Communications. She has nearly twenty years of experience in public relations, including a senior leadership position at Edelman and Weber Shandwick. Most recently, she worked with non-for-profits, serving as the chair of the communications committee of the Advisory Board for Mount Sinai’s Adolescent Health Center and leading communications and strategic marketing for Seleni Institute, focusing on maternal mental health.
“As an alum of Stern College for Women,” wrote Haas, “I am very excited to be back at YU and am inspired by the work being done under Rabbi Berman’s leadership.” She added, “I am excited to learn more about your experiences as well. My door is always open and I would love to hear from you.”
Photo Caption: New Faces in YU: (left to right) Samantha Hitt, Erika Shechter, Mechal Haas (Betty Sugarman not pictured)
Photo Credit: Yeshiva University
