Hebrew Union College Elects Three New Members to the Board of Governors

The Board of Governors of Hebrew Union College is proud to announce three new members. Sara Charney, Marci Dollinger, and Cathy Weiss were elected at the Board's quarterly meeting.

"The addition of these three outstanding members to the Hebrew Union College Board of Governors strengthens our leadership at a critical time," said Cary Davidson and Matthew Louchheim, Vice Chairs of the Board of Governors, and Co-Chairs of the Board Development & Governance Committee. "These leaders bring extensive expertise across diverse fields. Their insights will be invaluable to the Board as we work to enhance Hebrew Union College and its mission to train the visionary and creative leaders required to meet the needs of contemporary Jewish communities."

Sara Charney is the Immediate Past President of Women of Reform Judaism. Born and raised in Toronto, ON, Canada, Charney grew up at Beth Tzedec Congregation and was an active member of USY. In the early '90s, Charney, her husband and young family, joined Holy Blossom Temple where she became an active volunteer serving as Sisterhood President, as well as on the Temple Board of Directors, the Temple Executive Board, and the Temple Foundation Board, for many years.

While pursuing and after completing her doctorate in Italian Renaissance literature at the University of Toronto (1988), Charney taught Italian language and literature in the Department of Italian Studies at the University of Toronto.

Charney is a proud member of the North American Board of the Union for Reform Judaism where she serves on a wide variety of committees. She also serves on the board of the Lionel Gelber Prize, a literary award for the world's best non-fiction book on international affairs published in English.

Marci Dollinger is the immediate past President of the Board of Brandeis Marin, after serving on the faculty as a teacher for 12 years. Professionally, Dollinger has been a Jewish day school educator for her entire teaching career. She currently serves on the Boards of A4BGU and Camp Newman and past board service includes leadership at the Osher Marin JCC, Congregation Rodef Sholom, Jewish Family and Children's Services, the Jewish Community Relations Council and co-President of the Osher Marin JCC preschool. She is an alumna of the Wexner Heritage Program and A4BGU's Zin Fellows Leadership Program. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Brandeis University, and a Master of Education and teaching credential from UCLA. Dollinger and her husband, Marc Dollinger, Ph.D., live in San Rafael, California, and are active members of Congregation Rodef Sholom. They have two daughters - Rivi (Rebecca) (an early childhood educator) and Shayna (HUC Rabbinic student on the LA campus).

Cathy Siegel Weiss serves as trustee and co-chair of the Investment Committee of the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles, a Pitzer College trustee and a Claremont Hillel board member. Deeply involved in the Jewish and civic arenas, she most recently served as co-chair of the Board of Trustees of Children's Hospital Los Angeles and chair of the Board of the Los Angeles Jewish Community Foundation. Among her many other community involvements, Siegel Weiss was the first woman president of the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Jewish Committee. She has also served in leadership roles for the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami, The Center for Early Education, the Los Angeles City Human Relations Commission, and the UCLA Chancellor's Community Advisory Commission, among others. She earned her bachelor's degree from Stanford University and her law degree from Hastings Law School. She practiced entertainment law for 20 years prior to becoming head of a family investment firm.

The three new members of the Hebrew Union College Board of Governors will serve through December 31, 2029.