Executive director

Elyana Funk

Elyana brings extensive community experience and organizational leadership in the nonprofit sector in Boulder County. She currently serves as the lead senior director of the "I Have A Dream"​ Foundation of Boulder County, where she’s held various positions for 24 years, beginning with a 12 year journey with a group of “Dreamer Scholars,” from their second grade through their senior year of high school. Working with over 500 young professionals, Elyana brings with her a career in leading teams that foster a strong sense of belonging, cultivating connections with students, and creating meaningful partnerships in the community. She is deeply committed to strengthening the Jewish community, serves on the Board of Directors at Congregation Har HaShem, is a member of the Wexner Heritage Program, and lives in Lafayette with her husband and 3 children.

Pronouns: She, Her, Hers

Contact: EFunk@cuboulderhillel.org

IACT Coordinator for israel engagement

Jacob Wilson

Jacob is a recent graduate of Michigan State University with a degree in Psychology and Communications. He enjoys spending his free time snowboarding, hiking, boxing, longboarding. Along with his usual hobbies his passions include traveling the world and meeting new people with a variety of interests and experiences.

Pronouns: He, Him, His

Contact: Jacob@cuboulderhillel.org

Springboard Engagement and innovation fellow

Shira Finke

Shira Finke was born and raised in Potomac, Maryland. She attended the College of Charleston, pursuing a major in Psychology and minors in management and Jewish studies. Shira actively participated in campus life by joining various organizations, including the women's health research team, the frisbee team, and, of course, Hillel. Within Hillel, she took the initiative to establish a club called Havurah, providing a platform for students to engage in passionate discussions on various Jewish topics. Her involvement within Hillel progressed to serving as an engagement fellow, FYSH coordinator, and eventually, president.

During the summers, Shira pursued diverse roles, including positions as an interfaith ambassador, innovation intern, and data analyst. Her wide range of interests ultimately led her to work at Hillel, where she could combine her many passions into her dream job. In her leisure time, she is eager to explore Boulder through activities such as hiking, dining, and shopping. Within Hillel, Shira is enthusiastic about re-imagining the possibilities for Jewish campus life. Her goal is to establish meaningful connections, develop exciting programming, and introduce fresh ideas that can shape the future of Jewish engagement on campus.

Pronouns: She, Her, Hers

Contact: Shira@cuboulderhillel.org

Shabbat and holiday chef

Rachel Irons

Rachel was born and raised in Anchorage, AK with parents who loved food and taught her how to cook from a young age. She majored in Environmental Studies and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at CU and has lived in the Boulder area every since. In addition to cooking for Hillel, Rachel runs a zero waste grocery store called Nude Foods. When she’s not busy with those things she enjoys all the standard Colorado outdoor activities.

Pronouns: She, Her, Hers

Contact: contact@cuboulderhillel.org

Campus Marketing and Development Manager

Ilana Bleich

Born and raised in Gaithersburg, Maryland, Ilana attended the University of Mary Washington and graduated with a degree in Historic Preservation and Urban Studies. She served as the Springboard Innovation Fellow at Northwestern University from 2019-2021, where she helped support students during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. She has worked in marketing and development for several organizations, including her university Department of Campus Recreation, Jewish camps, and most recently as the Digital Content Strategist at the Chicago Architecture Center. She currently lives in Washington, DC.

Pronouns: She, Her, Hers

Contact: IBleich@hillel.org