Meet the Team

Executive Director

Maya (she/her) is a dedicated professional with a passion for fostering inclusive Jewish communities. With extensive experience in program development, team leadership, and student engagement, Maya is committed to creating meaningful experiences for young adults.

Maya studied International Relations at UC Davis, focusing on Peace & Security, and became deeply involved in campus life through Hillel, Mishelanu, ASUCD, Greek life, and Camp Kesem.
As Program Director at Maccabi Sports Camp, Maya designed programs that promoted community building and personal growth. She is trained in conflict resolution and was a Merrin Fellow, reflecting her ability to navigate complex environments and build strong collaborative relationships. Maya is passionate about supporting students in their Jewish identity development and empowering them to become future leaders.

Senior Director of Development

Senior Director of Operations & Finance

Israel Education Coordinator

Program Manager

Avery (she/her) is originally from Los Angeles, CA and is a recent graduate from UC Berkeley where she studied Media Studies and City Planning. She loved spending time at Berkeley Hillel where she was able to engage deeply with Judaism and the Jewish community. Avery looks forward to moving across the Bay to help foster positive experiences for Jewish students across San Francisco.
In her free time, Avery loves dancing, photography, crocheting, and trying new matcha spots. She also loves traveling and exploring both locally and globally.

Talia (she/her) joined SF Hillel in 2025 as the Springboard Ezra Jewish Education Specialist. She grew up in Houston, TX, and earned her B.A. in Sociology from Occidental College in Los Angeles. Talia has been deeply engaged in Jewish learning and community throughout her life, from BBYO in high school to both Hillel and Chabad during college.

Her passion for Jewish education deepened in college, where she participated in Hillel’s Jewish Learning Fellowship and Sinai Scholars through Chabad. Talia is excited to help students find personal and meaningful connections to Jewish values, history, and traditions, no matter their background. She’s passionate about creating welcoming spaces for dialogue, exploration, and growth. In her free time, Talia enjoys baking, learning new languages, reading, spending time in nature, and exploring everything a new city has to offer.

Emily Simons (she/her) is a passionate Jewish leader who inspires others to engage with their Jewish values through the gift of philanthropy. Emily works for San Francisco Hillel as the Senior Director of Development, and has been there since 2016 in a multitude of roles. Emily holds a Master's in Organizational Leadership & Innovation from HUC's Zelikow School of Nonprofit Management and a Bachelor's in Social Work from Temple University.

Emily is an active lay leader in the San Francisco Jewish community. She currently serves on the Jewish LearningWorks board, is a Bay Area JCRC Council Member, and is a member of the newest Voices for Good Fellowship cohort through Jewish LearningWorks, which empowers female leaders in the workplace.

Interested in learning more about SF Hillel's donor communities? Emily would love to connect with you at emily@sfhillel.org.

Sophie (she/her) is an enthusiastic operations and finance professional who has broad experience with both the programmatic and administrative sides of non-profit organizations. Sophie's involvement with Hillel began as an undergraduate student at the University of Vermont where she was a participant and leader on the student board. Since joining the team in 2019, she has streamlined and improved organizational processes which has allowed staff to achieve their goals and has broadened the impact of the organization. Sophie is an avid reader, life-long learner, and environmental advocate who can be found gardening, hiking, or cooking in her free time.

Gabby (she/her) is a passionate Israel Education Coordinator and a recent graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder with a degree in Business, specializing in Entrepreneurship and Management. Her passion for Israel and the Jewish community was sparked through her involvement with CU Boulder's Hillel, where she served as a photographer on the student board, and continued with a summer internship at Aloha Surf School in Tel Aviv. In her free time, Gabby enjoys hiking, surfing, powerlifting, and watching movies. She is enthusiastic about travel, experiential learning, connecting with new people, and baby animals.

Lilly (she/her) is passionate about creating inclusive, supportive spaces where students feel a strong sense of belonging in Jewish life. Originally from Washington, D.C., she studied Elementary and Special Education at American University and began her career as a first-grade teacher.
Her time in the classroom shaped her belief in the power of curiosity, empathy, and community. She later took on a leadership role running a before- and after-school program, where she worked closely with families to build a positive, connected environment.
Lilly is excited to bring her background in education, relationship-building, and program development to SF Hillel. She looks forward to supporting students as they explore their identities, build meaningful connections, and create vibrant Jewish experiences together.