Rebbetzin Dr. Adina Shmidman is the founding director of the OU Women’s Initiative. She is a community leader with over three decades of teaching experience in New York, Alabama and Pennsylvania. She received a PhD in Educational Psychology from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, MS in School Psychology from Queens College and MA in Jewish Education and a Certificate in Educational Technology from Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University.  She received a Teacher’s Certificate from Beth Jacob Seminary (BJJ).  She is the rebbetzin of the Lower Merion Synagogue as well as the co-chair of the Lower Merion Community Mikvah in Bala Cynwyd, PA.  She is a kallah teacher and mikvah attendant.  She and her husband, Rabbi Avraham Shmidman, live in Bala Cynwyd, PA and are the parents of four sons. 

Mrs. Chana Siff, Executive Director of The Neuberger Family Foundation  

Chana Siff has enjoyed working in the Jewish nonprofit sector over the last 13 years, including at The Baltimore Jewish Council, The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore, and most recently, serving as the director for family foundations. In her current role, she enjoys using her expertise in organizational management, community planning, grantmaking, advocacy, strategic planning, leadership training, and communications to help strengthen organizations and develop communal initiatives.

Chana received her MBA, with a focus in Leadership & Management Development, and her B.S. in Corporate Communications both from the University of Baltimore. In 2016, Chana received the Outstanding Jewish Communal Professional Award from The Darrell D. Friedman Institute for Professional Development (DFI).

Chana personally enjoys applying her professional experience to her work with community organizations and projects, including in her current role as PTA co-president and on the Executive Board of Talmudical Academy of Baltimore. She lives in Baltimore with her husband and children.

Mrs. Alexis Goldstein has worked in the Jewish communal sector for the last ten years with a focus on nonprofit strategy, development, and growth. Alexis is currently Vice President of Programs at Walder Operations where she manages the Chicago-based Walder programs – Walder Education, Walder Science, and Kehillah Fund. Previously, she served as Director of Institutional Advancement at HTC and as a Senior Development Executive at UJA-Federation.

Mrs. Tzivia Cohen is the founder and CEO of 14Minds, a marketing agency that specializes in strategic marketing for nonprofit organizations.

Malka Levitansky is a fundraising and marketing specialist and coach with more than 20 years of experience in the Jewish nonprofit world.  Malka currently serves as Chief Development Officer for Midwest NCSY/JSU, where she focuses on foundation and major donor cultivation and stewardship.

Sharyl Ross, CPA, is a seasoned tax professional with over 30 years of public accounting experience, including time at a Big Four firm. A trusted advisor and strategic partner, she is deeply involved in her community, serving as Board President of Libenu and Treasurer of the Jewish Neighborhood Development Council of Chicago.

Dr. Shana Erenberg is the co-founder and CEO of Libenu, which provides a lifetime of care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through residential respite, and advocacy services. She is also the Chairman Emeritus of the Department of Education and a professor emeritus at Hebrew Theological College/Touro University in Chicago. Dr. Erenberg maintains a private practice for the diagnostic evaluation, remediation, and advocacy of children and adults with disabilities.

An only child, Sarah Rivkah was 9 years old when her mother passed away after 6 ½ years of battling an illness. Her father remarried a few months later.

The loneliness she felt following her mother’s passing sparked a determination to one day provide comfort and support to teen girls dealing with parental loss. She founded Links Family in 2006, with the publication of the first issue of Links Magazine, and has continuously expanded the scope of the organization as she seeks to address the specific needs of each child.