Penn State Hillel named Robyn Markowitz Lawler, a longtime Jewish communal leader who has worked at the school since 2019, as executive director. She will support Jewish life for roughly five thousand Jewish students at Penn State and lead efforts to expand engagement and community on campus.
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) student government passed a resolution urging the university to divest from weapons manufacturers. The measure was approved only after language singling out Israel was removed, ensuring the focus remained on broader ethical concerns. Interim Chancellor Katherine Ankerson emphasized that student organizations do not represent UNL’s official positions and that the Board of Regents retains final authority over university policy.
The University of Washington now requires all staff and students to complete a civil rights training program as part of a voluntary university agreement with the federal government. The agreement followed a federal probe into allegations of “unchecked antisemitism” on campus.
Florida legislators Sen. Alexis Calatayud and Rep. Allison Tant are championing a bipartisan plan to enhance security and support for Jewish students at universities statewide. The Florida Hillels Jewish Student Safety Initiative would expand from three universities to seven, with an estimated reach of more than 25,000 Jewish college students. The program combines stronger safety improvements with education, relationships, and support services to help Jewish students feel connected, supported, and empowered.
Columbia University’s Board of Trustees selected University of Wisconsin–Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin to serve as the next president of the university, with her term beginning July 1. Mnookin, the university’s first Jewish leader in three decades, will take the helm following nearly two years of controversy over antisemitism and anti-Israel protests at the New York City campus. Brian Cohen, executive director of the Kraft Center for Jewish Life, Columbia’s Hillel, emphasized that despite recent challenges, Columbia maintains a strong Jewish community – and he expressed hope that Mnookin’s experience and leadership will help build on that foundation.
More than 150 Jewish faculty members at the University of Pennsylvania filed an amicus brief supporting the university’s response to a federal lawsuit involving the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Faculty members expressed concern over the scope of the EEOC’s subpoena requesting information about Jewish students, faculty, and groups, citing risks to safety, and the historical implications of collecting information about Jewish individuals.