Our Staff
Rabbi Joseph PolakDirector
In the Fall of 2009 Rabbi Polak will begin his 40th year at Boston University, and his 43rd year in Hillel. Even though he is not the oldest Hillel director, nor does he hold the Hillel record for job longevity, the students at Boston University love him just the same.
Rabbi Polak’s passions include students, the possibilities and limits of pluralism, a Torah-based intellectual life and jogging around the Charles River. Rabbi Polak is the father of five children and grandfather of seven grandchildren.
Susan Sloane
Director of Operations
Susan Sloane is a native of the Boston area, growing up just 15 minutes from BU Hillel. After graduating from The American University in Washington, DC, Susan pursued a career in hotel management and achieved her goal of being a hotel General Manager in record speed- making her the youngest woman hotel manager in the Boston area. After 13 years in the hotel industry, Susan went into the family business (since 1939!) as a candy wholesale distributor. During her 12 ‘sweet’ years in the candy industry Susan was also President of the Boston Confectionery Sales Club and Vice President of the Board of Directors of the National Candy Salesman’s Association.
Leaving the candy business in the capable hands of her younger brother, Susan decided to move on to an arena that had always intrigued her- event management. Although not a golfer, Susan managed the corporate transportation logistics for the 1999 Ryder Cup Matches held in Brookline, MA, along with several PGA Championships and other transportation logistic events for major conventions throughout the US. She continued in another aspect of the events area as Executive Director for a firm that handled speaker management and concert production.
A lover of the ocean, Susan lives on the South Shore just 5 minutes from the beach where she takes advantage of being able to walk seaside every chance she gets. Her passions- family, friends, jazz vocals, old movies and chocolate chip cookies!
Michael (Kip) Lombardo
Director of Student Activities
Michael (Kip) Lombardo originates from Rochester, New York. Kip holds degrees from Bucknell University, Binghamton University and Boston University. After four summers as an actor in the Tic/Toc Players, Kip abandoned a career in the theatre when Madonna suggested over drinks, that “Pumpkin, the children really need you!” For six years, he taught Junior High School English and worked at the Rochester Institute of Technology as an Instructor in Rhetoric and as the Hillel Director, from 1995-2000.
In 2000, Kip entered the doctoral program in Language and Literacy at Boston University’s School of Education. He teaches Children’s Literature and Writing in Boston University’s Writing Program. Since 2000, Kip has served as the Director of Student Activities, advises Hillel’s 36 student groups and has organized birthright Israel trips. He has a personal library of over 5,000 volumes, is a gourmet cook and has traveled to more than a dozen countries. Kip loves receiving gifts, especially from Williams-Sonoma, Stonewall Kitchens, J. Crew, the Andover Shop and Borders Books.
Rachel Lehner Klingenstein
Director of Development
Rachel grew up in Harrisburg, PA, but has been working her way up the east coast for the past 10 years. After graduating from American University in 2003 with a major in Sociology and a minor in Conflict Peace Resolution, she moved to New York City and worked as a Development Assistant at The New Israel Fund. However, 4 years ago, Rachel once again moved and headed even further north to Boston. After 3 years working in development at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay, Rachel was ready for a change and wished to return to a Jewish organization.
As the Director of Development, Rachel is responsible for driving all fundraising efforts at Hillel. She works with the adult board, alumni, and parents of both alumni and current students. Rachel’s favorite part of the day is when students drop by to chat.
When not at work, Rachel likes to read, exercise, cook, travel, and provide endless entertainment for friends and family.
Holland Dieringer
Business Manager / Gallery Coordinator
Though born in Hawaii, Holland has since lived in California, Virginia, Massachusetts, and Oregon. She graduated from Boston University College of Fine Arts in 2005 with a major in painting.
Aside from the view from her office, Holland enjoys the opportunities she gets in running the Rubin-Frankel Gallery to meet artists from all over the world. She is thankful to be able to work with such a fantastic staff, and for the grape leaves they serve in the cafeteria.
When Holland is not at Hillel she designs and prints silkscreens in her studio, tends to the ever-growing garden on her back porch and plays violin in the Boston local rock band Fly Upright Kite.
KateLynn Plotnick
Program Associate for Taglit-Birthright Israel
KateLynn is from Framingham, MA. She graduated with a degree in Public Relations and Jewish Studies in May 2009, from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA.
Due to her exceptional love for Israel, KateLynn is dedicated to educating others about Israel. KateLynn attributes her knowledge, experience and her interest in advocating for Israel from running the organization, Temple Students for Israel, along with attending a semester at Tel Aviv University. She is thrilled to “go back to school”, and cannot wait to interact with students and be a part of such a welcoming and warm Jewish community.
KateLynn insists that she cannot live without chapstick, chocolate, or her Shih Tzu, Teddy.