I am originally from Tucson, Arizona. Yes, I am one of those native Tucsonans! My professional background: I am currently a licensed clinical therapist working at Jewish Family & Children’s Services with our community’s Holocaust survivors. Prior to joining JFCS I was the VP for Programming & Organizational Development/Director, Jewish Education at the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona where I directed Tucson Hebrew High and taught the senior class. In addition to the high school I wrote and obtained grants for programs such as PJ Library and The Better Together program which brought elders and teens together to engage with and learn from each other. I was a volunteer advisor to the University of Arizona Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega, I served on the organizing committee for what was formerly known as NAACCHHS (North American Association of Community and Congregational Hebrew High Schools), now JTeen, and was conference chair for the annual summer educators conference.

I am a native Tucsonan, born at TMC. I have been a lawyer for over 40 years. Until July 2022, I primarily was a bankruptcy attorney most often representing individuals filing personal bankruptcy. Currently, I am employed at Southern Arizona Legal Aid as the managing attorney for the Consumer, Housing and Public Benefits unit. I mostly defend people facing eviction. In my personal life, I enjoy road cycling very much: I’ve ridden El Tour multiple times and thoroughly enjoy riding on Mt. Lemmon. I also enjoy reading novels.

I am originally from El Paso, Texas. I have always been surrounded by the military, coming from a military family and living in a military town. I am a surviving spouse of a United States Marine. My professional background: I am a Rehabilitation Counselor, having earned my Master's in 2016. I also have a Bachelor's in Social Work. I served on the El Paso Holocaust Museum & Study Center's board for six months up until I moved to Tucson in 2017. I had been a volunteer at the museum about four years prior to that. I am interested in serving on this board because I would like to be a part of the effort to educate the community about the Holocaust as well as other atrocities that affect society. I consider myself an advocate and an activist and strive to reflect the caring & kindness I want to see in the world.

I am originally from Phoenix, Arizona, but was raised in Tucson. My professional background: I graduated from ASU with a finance degree in May 2022. I worked for Northwestern Mutual as a college financial representative from 2021-2022. I now work as a registered financial advisor with Greenberg Financial Group. I am interested in serving on this board because I believe it is important to educate the masses on the human fallacies that lead to acts of genocide. I want to help ensure the TJHMC has a place for others to share their experiences and move the conversation forward surrounding equality. I believe by serving on this board I can do a small part in stopping dehumanization and bringing humans together.

Sheira currently works as a board member for her family business overseeing the management and sale of real estate assets while maintaining a presence in the local Jewish community. She previously worked in public relations in the hospitality industry, as a pastry chef, and as a consultant for recipe development. Sheira has also previously volunteered for charities including the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence and the Regional Organ Bank of Illinois.

David is a real estate professional with Long Realty and the COO and Board Member of the Morris A. Hazan Family Foundation. He is a Tucson native and lives with his wife and young son in the West University area. He is also a member of JPSA’s Young Men’s Group and is excited to join TJMHC’s Board of Directors to find new ways to be more engaged in Jewish communal work and life.

I was born in Cleveland, Ohio, but moved to Tucson at the age of 4 1/2. Professionally I was a speech pathologist for over 35 years. I have served on many boards in the Jewish community over the years including Anshei Israel, the Federation, JCRC, the Foundation and the TJMHC, to name a few. I look forward to serving on this board because I feel the history of the Holocaust must be taught, the history of our role in making Tucson what it is today must be preserved, and having had two parents who were survivors of Auschwitz I feel it is my duty to memorialize their history and the memory of the life they created for me and my brothers.

Brenda is a Tucson native whose parents arrived in 1958, and has spent most of her life here. She is a retired high school counselor and former English teacher. She now spends most of her time riding her bike. walking her old man dog, Arthur, and volunteering as a docent at TJMHC, with the Homing Project, and tutoring Israeli teens in English. Brenda is married to Kathleen Iveson, another native Tucsonan. They have two adult sons, Sam and Avi, both of whom are married and adulting. She adores her two grandchildren.

I was raised in the Chicago area and relocated to Tucson in the early 70’s to attend college, graduating from the University of Arizona in Business and Public Administration. Most of my professional career was spent in the telecommunications industry, serving commercial, hospitality, medical and non-profit organizations in planning, engineering, and implementation of equipment and network services. The last 10 years of my career I was privileged to work as a Career Coach at the Eller School of Business, teaching, networking with protentional employers, and mentoring undergraduate students to gain employment. My volunteer experience includes, the Jewish Federation, Tucson Jewish and Family Services, Child & Family Resources board member, Habitat for Humanity, and Hire Heroes. I look forward to contributing to this board and our local community to educate and bring awareness to marginalized peoples.

Rachel is a Sociologist and Demographer who just complete her doctorate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where her research focused on the impacts of environment toxins and climate change on marginalized communities. She moved to Tucson with her husband, a native Tucsonan, and her two small children, last year. Rachel has been active in the Jewish community in various places she’s lived, including Jewish Social Services of Madison, Hillel, and the JCC. Part of Rachel’s interest in serving on the TJMHC board is that her grandparents were German Jews who fled the Nazi regime.

Gila is an educator, researcher, ad writer with over 30 years of experience in Jewish educational and communal organizations, in both Israel and the United States. She currently serves as Education Program Manager at Shomer Collective, a national organization dedicated to improving end-of-life experiences by helping people to talk more openly about death and dying, through the lens of Jewish wisdom and practices. Much of Gila’s academic and communal work has focused on the intersection of religion, spirituality, health and healing, and exploring diverse ways that we find meaning and relevance in Jewish tradition and ritual, particularly in times of illness and loss.

I grew up in New York City. I am a retired higher education history/geography instructor and administrator who encourages students to view the present and past through the humanistic lens of compassion. I serve on the Jewish Community Relations Council of Southern Arizona and the board of the United Nations Association, Southern Arizona Chapter. I have been on the Steering Committee of the Tucson Tikkun Community since its founding in 2005. I was on the Board of Directors of the CUMCO Federal Credit Union in Vineland, New Jersey. I am interested in serving on the TJMHC board to further my awareness of Jewish history and to support efforts to understand genocide and call attention to its historic and contemporary manifestations. I bring the perspective of a studious Jew by choice with extensive academic and broad personal experience with other faiths.