Aaron Kaufman (Executive Director)
Aaron has been with Penn State Hillel since 2007. Aaron hails from the great state of Michigan, and attended the University of Michigan where he met his wife Stephanie at Hillel, and also received a degree in Judaic Studies, Cultural Anthropology, and Studies in Religion as well as a Masters Degree in Social Work. Prior to working at Penn State Hillel, Aaron was the Director at the Eastern Michigan University Hillel and the Associate Director at the Cornell Hillel, and picked up a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management along the way. Aaron is thrilled to be back in the Big Ten, and loves living in Happy Valley and working with the best students and staff in the country. He plays guitar, loves good food, and has two adorable little girls, Ellie Pearl and Ruby Mae, and a little boy named Franklin. Aaron also suffers from a constant craving for coffee, and is happy to indulge by buying a cup for any student who wants one.
Aaron can be reached at adk12@psu.edu or 814.863.4825
Lori Thompson-Given (Director of Operations)
Lori has worked at Penn State Hillel since 2005. She is a graduate of South Hills School of Business and Technology, State College Campus. Lori is the facilitator of all office management, accounting, development database, and financial transactions. Additionally, she represents Hillel in the Chamber of Business and Industry for Centre County. Because she has been a life-long resident of the Centre Region, Lori has a comprehensive knowledge of Happy Valley and the surrounding area. Aside from being an avid reader, Lori enjoys spending time with her husband, Scott, and daughter, Hannah, as well as her three beautiful cats. All the State College woodland creatures love Lori so, when you stop by to see her, you’re likely to notice a bird, chipmunk, and/or squirrel staring through the window waiting for a tasty treat.
Lori can be reached at lat11@psu.edu or 814.865.4828
Assaf Levinton (Jewish Agency Israel Fellow to Hillel)
Assaf graduated from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem with a degree in Medical Biology. Assaf is 
originally from the city of Haifa on Mount Carmel and finds it difficult to navigate flat (or relatively flat) cities, so if you see him confused on the street, please help him get to his destination. Assaf loves to cook (and even more to eat) and once ate 8 gefilte fish (on a bet); he feels he is now ready to try anything. He is always happy to meet with students for coffee--or ice cream--or any food State College has to offer, and to talk about Israel or anything else.
Contact Assaf at aul20@psu.edu 814.380.8484