Meet the Team -

Meet the Staff

The mission of Hillel at FSU is to enrich the lives of Jewish undergraduate and graduate students
so they may enrich their community and the world.

Brian Pelc

Executive Director

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Background

Brian Pelc started at FSU Hillel as assistant director after 12 years of Tikkun Olam in the Florida Panhandle working for The Nature Conservancy. Meanwhile, Brian’s Jewish Journey unfolded at Tallahassee’s Temple Israel where he taught in the religious school and youth group and learned from rabbis and local Jewish academics, led services for Shabbat, High Holidays and B’nai Mitzvah as soloist and created new Jewish music with the local Jewish Southern Folk band, Bagels and Biscuits. Brian, his wife, Melanie and son Josh share their home with a bunch of chickens, ducks, sheep and 3 house cats. Brian believes improving the world is so critical and that can happen in the big woods of Florida and in the community of Jews who are exploring culture, tradition and spiritual connection. Go Noles!

Kaya Rubinstein

Development Manager

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Background

Kaya is thrilled to be back in the Hillel community as the Development Manager at FSU Hillel! She earned a degree in Hospitality Management from the University of Central Florida and has spent her career fostering meaningful connections and engagement. Before joining FSU Hillel, she served as the Director of Leadership and Engagement at Oregon Hillel for four years and later as the Assistant Director of Young Alumni Engagement and Philanthropy at the UCF Foundation.

Passionate about building relationships and strengthening Jewish life on campus, Kaya is excited to support FSU Hillel’s mission through development and philanthropy. When not at Hillel, she enjoys painting, exploring new foods, camping, and spending quality time with family.

Melanie Pelc

Director of Leadership and Wellness

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Background

Melanie Pelc received her Master’s in Social Work at FSU…GO NOLES! She has been working locally in Tallahassee since 2012 providing bereavement and hospice support and education to patients and families at the end of life, as well as wellness, leadership and burnout education and staff support with organizations.

Melanie is thrilled to join the FSU Hillel family and is excited to bring her love and passion for people and Jewish Culture to help create amazing humans and great leaders.

Leah Caster

Engagement and Program Manager

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Background

Leah Caster was born and raised in Tallahassee, FL, and grew up being a part of Temple Israel's community, where she went on to become a religious school teacher and youth group advisor. Her passion for guiding students in their goals and nurturing their growth also extends to Killearn Lakes TaeKwonDo, where she has instructed students of all ages for 14 years. When she has free time, Leah loves to bake elaborate treats, watch movies, do puzzles and spend time with loved ones (including her dog). She is especially excited to create safe spaces for people to share experiences and help broaden perspectives.

Tomer Stein

Israel Fellow

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Background

Tomer Stein comes all the way from Netanya, Israel, to serve as a Jewish Agency Israel Fellow. Tomer graduated with a bachelor's degree in Business and Information Systems from Ruppin Academic Center. He also established his own real estate agency in Netanya, where he excelled in negotiation and relationship-building. In addition, he was actively involved in community service, volunteering for Leket Israel, where he delivered meals and food ingredients to those in need. Tomer is enthusiastic about using his skills and experiences to strengthen the connections between the Jewish community and Israel, aiming to engage students in meaningful discussions about Israel and Jewish identity during his Shlichut.

Giovanna Zavell

Marketing and Development Manager

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Background

Giovanna Zavell has worked in nonprofit and higher ed spaces since graduating from Drake University where she earned degrees in both Magazine Journalism and English. She has always stayed connected to her Jewish community through teaching Hebrew school and as a youth group advisor. A native of Skokie, IL, Giovanna currently lives in Des Moines, Iowa. In her free time she enjoys reading, attending concerts and perfecting the perfect at-home shaken espresso for every season.

Emma Sklar

Engagement Coordinator

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Background

Emma Sklar is the Engagement Coordinator at Hillel at FSU, where she works to build meaningful connections and create engaging experiences for Jewish students on campus. A recent graduate of Florida State University, Emma earned her bachelor's degree in Marketing in December 2025. As both an alumna and staff member, she is passionate about fostering community, helping students find their place at Hillel, and strengthening Jewish life at FSU.

Rabbi Heather Paul

Frieder Family Campus Engagement Rabbi

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Background

Rabbi Heather Paul (she/her/hers) is the Frieder Family Campus Engagement Rabbi at FSU Hillel. Passionate about empowering students to engage with and innovate on Jewish tradition, Rabbi Heather has 18 years of experience in Jewish communal service, previously serving as Senior Jewish Educator at Illini Hillel, as Hillel International’s Springboard Assistant Director, and in engagement roles at Hillel at Stanford and Santa Cruz Hillel. Rabbi Heather also volunteers as the assistant director for Milton Marks Family Camp, which serves families coping with brain cancer. Rabbi Heather received rabbinic smicha from ALEPH Renewal Seminary in 2023 and a graduate certificate in Jewish experiential education from HUC-JIR in 2012. An experienced educator, writer, liturgist and ritual designer, Rabbi Heather’s writing has appeared in Ritualwell, the Forward, eJewishPhilanthropy, and HuffPost Religion. Rabbi Heather, her husband, Joseph, and their daughter, Ella, love to adventure and explore the natural world together and they are excited to discover all that Tallahassee has to offer.

Precious Boatwright

Assistant Director

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Background

Precious is a long time Tallahassian, graduate of FSU, and the proud mother of two exceptional daughters, Ashanti and Jacara. She is an active member of both Temple Israel and Congregation Shomrei Torah. She's a passionate member of the Social Justice Team and other civic organizations that put Tikkun Olam first whether it’s for humans or the environment. She is overjoyed to be working with the phenomenal team at Hillel at FSU to make this world a brighter and better place that feeds and gives life, support and safety to our Neshama's.

Sam McGill

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Background

Sam McGill is a Springboard Fellow at Hillel at FSU, working to inspire students to grow their own Jewish journey using his Jewish cultural and education background. He graduated from Indiana University in May 2026, receiving a BA in Jewish Studies and a minor in business. In his free time, he loves playing guitar, biking, and watching football. He is so excited to work with the Florida State community!