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!
Joshua H. Tolub
Director of Development
A native New Yorker, Josh considers himself ‘a stranger in a strange land’ – not out of a great connection to the book of Exodus, but of his remaining an unabashed Yankee fan in the heart of Boston.
Josh is no stranger to fundraising in the Jewish community, having previously worked in Development for Hebrew College and Combined Jewish Philanthropies. A graduate of Clark University, Josh has spent the last 15 years working on political campaigns, public relations and fundraising. He lives in South Easton with his wife and two children.
Lauren Shuman
Director of Student Activities
A Boston University graduate herself, Lauren graduated from the College of Arts & Sciences in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Business.
During her time at BU she participated in Birthright with the campus Hillel. Based upon this experience, Lauren returned to Israel after graduating to take part in OTZMA, a ten month social services program in Israel. Prior to joining Hillel Lauren worked as the Mid-Atlantic Campus Coordinator at the David Project, where worked closely with students, faculty, and professionals across college campuses throughout the East Coast.
Lauren is excited to be back at BU and to help inspire and empower Jewish student life on campus.
Holland Dieringer
Business Manager / Gallery Director - The Rubin-Frankel Gallery
Though born in Hawaii, Holland has since lived in California, Virginia, Massachusetts, and Oregon, and considers herself an Oregonian at heart. 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 group of students.
When Holland is not at Hillel she works in her painting studio, tends to an ever-growing garden, and plays violin for the New England Philharmonic.
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”, 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.