Community Leaders: Whitney Fisch, Hillel

Whitney Fisch, executive director of Hillel at Miami University

Growing up in a small Jewish community in Marietta Georgia, Whitney Fisch has been exposed to Jewish culture as long as she can remember. Her impressive resume in Jewish education and leadership, which carried her from Ohio, to Israel, Michigan, Los Angeles, and more, has shaped her Jewish identity today as a powerful leader of one of the most prominent Jewish organizations on campus. With a masters in social work and many years of Jewish leadership experience, Whitney and her family jumped on the opportunity to settle in Cincinnati and take over the executive director position at Miami University’s Hillel amidst the COVID pandemic.

Hillel at Miami University’s mission

Whitney strongly believes that in order to succeed, you need to put the people before the program, and stay true to your core mission and values. The rest of Hillel’s staff seek to create a space where Jewish students can thrive and develop as individuals, and to create personal connections with students. Through a comprehensive programming schedule designed by their student leadership, students from a myriad of backgrounds enjoy events such as weekly Shabbat dinners, trivia nights, and israel-centric programming. By analyzing what drives Jewish students to certain events and working hard to respond to community feedback, Hillel can serve Miami University’s student population at a consistently high level.

Hillel and AEPi

AEPi recognizes that Hillel is a cornerstone of the Jewish community on campus, and our brothers make an active effort to engage in their programming. Throughout the years, Hillel and AEPi have continued to support each other, and worked hard to help create a strong Jewish community on campus.

Whitney applauds AEPi’s willingness to be loud about our Judaism on campus, and that the brotherhood and culture we strive to create goes a long way in developing strong Jewish leaders. As an organization, we pride ourselves in a high level of engagement in the Jewish community on campus. We consistently encourage brothers to hold leadership positions in other student organizations on campus, and Hillel is no different. It’s a wonderful thing to be able to see the results of our brothers hard work in connecting Hillel and AEPi together, and the leadership skills they have developed throughout the years in our chapter.

Antisemitism and awareness

On Miami’s campus, there are a myriad of individuals who seek to protect Jewish students and allow them to express themselves without fear. Whitney Fisch, and the rest of the Hillel staff have close working relationships with many members of the DEI office on Miami University’s campus. Hillel wants Jewish students to know that if something happens, it shouldn’t go unreported, and that Hillel is a resource for them to lean on.

In order to live proud Jewish lives in the face of antisemitism, Whitney strongly believes that Jewish individuals need to find what connects them to their Judaism, and stick with it, regardless of religious involvement. Being a proud Jewish individual can differ from person to person, but making an effort to find a place in the Jewish community is an important thing to do.

AEPi stands by Hillel and the rest of the Jewish community on campus in the fight against antisemitism. For now, and far into the future, we hope to continue to collaborate with Hillel to build the Jewish community on Miami’s campus, and provide a safe space for all students, regardless of background.