The Grad Network Advisory Board launched Spring 2022 as a way for graduate students to help shape the Jewish community at Columbia. The Advisory Board has evolved each year and now includes three special committees: Shabbat Committee, Social Committee, and School Ambassadors Committee. Advisory Board members serve on one of the three committees.
The Advisory Board includes students from different Columbia Graduate schools and Teachers College in order to best support students across academic disciplines and departments. Throughout the semester, The Advisory Board meets to provide feedback on current programs, imagine new initiatives, design Shabbat experiences, create social events, examine values guiding Jewish leadership, and build community among each other. We're grateful for their time, ideas, and dedication to strengthening Jewish community at Columbia.
Applications for the 2026-2027 Advisory Board have closed
Meet the 2026-2027 Grad Network Advisory Board
School Ambassador Committee Members
David Greenbaum
Grad School: Master of Architecture
Hometown(s): Amherst, MA
People who meet me might be surprised to learn that I love to cook.
I like to talk about books, movies, art!
Gil Bar-Or
Grad School: School of International and Public Affairs; MPA
Hometown(s): Sunnyvale, CA
People who meet me might be surprised to learn that I made it to the state finals of National Geographic's Geography Bee in 7th grade!
I like to talk about politics, Alex G (and indie rock in general), Israel, being Israeli-American, backpacking, and public transit.
Jason Frankel
Grad School: College of Dental Medicine
Hometown(s): West Hempstead, NY and Teaneck, NJ
People who meet me might be surprised to learn that I've been skydiving!
I like to talk about hockey, football, camping, snowboarding, and being Jewish!
Karisa Lasoff
Grad School: Mailman, PhD in Sociomedical Sciences with a concentration in History
Hometown(s): Boston, MA
People who meet me might be surprised to learn that I have been ice skating since I was three years old and played hockey growing up.
I like to talk about whatever work of fiction I’m currently reading!
Leora Segal
Grad School: Mailman School of Public Health
Hometown(s): New Rochelle, NY
People who meet me might be surprised to learn that I’m a certified ski instructor and spent my gap year teaching in Colorado!
I like to talk about live music, Skiing/Hiking, Tennis, Broadway, Sustainability, and being Jewish.
Mor Sudri
Grad School: IKNS, School of Professional Studies
Hometown(s): TLV, Israel
People who meet me might be surprised to learn that I used to be a CrossFit coach in Tel Aviv and organized community workouts.
I like to talk about sports, wellness, Israeli culture, marketing, Jewish life, and good food in New York.
Sierra Lavine
Grad School: Teachers College, Communication Sciences and Disorders - Bilingual Extension
Hometown(s): New York City
People who meet me might be surprised to learn that I hiked Mt. Kilimanjaro!
I like to talk about dogs, Taylor Swift, being Jewish, and anything speech language pathology related!
Shabbat Committee Members
Annabelle Swenson
Grad School: Narrative Medicine, School of Professional Studies
Hometown(s): Denver, CO
People who meet me might be surprised to learn that I am a triplet!
I like to talk about anything history related, your favorite memoir, movie recommendations.
Antonella Milans
Grad School: Mailman, Masters of Public Health Epidemiology, Certificate in Molecular Epidemiology
Hometown(s): Monterey, California
People who meet me might be surprised to learn that I love classic rock.
I like to talk about random interests.
Dan Twili
Grad School: PhD Statistics at GSAS
Hometown(s): Randolph, NJ
People who meet me might be surprised to learn I work on machine learning and AI research!
I like to talk about calisthenics, tech, and wild Talmud stories.
Omer Barash
Graduate School Program: Department of Music, Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition
Hometown(s): Yesud HaMa'ala, Israel
People who meet me might be surprised to learn that before coming to NYC, I used to live in Jerusalem, Montréal, Vienna, and Paris!
I like to talk about music, experimental art, Hebrew literature and poetry, and anything gay.
Sara Goldstein
Graduate School Program: M.S. in Sustainability Management
Hometown(s): New Rochelle, NY and Los Angeles, CA
People who meet me might be surprised to learn that I took a gap year, during which I moved to Israel and interned as a political journalist!
I like to talk about all sorts of art (dancing, jewelry making, ceramics), live music, Judaism, sustainability, cooking, and budget traveling (I've backpacked through 26 countries and don't plan to stop anytime soon).
Social Committee Members
Andy Lee
Graduate School Program: SEAS - Computer Science - Machine Learning
Hometown(s): Los Angeles, CA
People who meet me might be surprised to learn
I like to talk about
Noa Kochai
Grad School: MIA (Technology, Policy & Innovation), School of International and Public Affairs
Hometown(s): Jerusalem
People who meet me might be surprised to learn that as a kid, I wanted to be a pilot, but ended up a lawyer.
I like to talk about live music, books, Broadway shows, traveling- in the U.S. and abroad!
Sara Lent
Grad School: Teachers College, Communication Sciences and Disorders
Hometown(s): Brooklyn
People who meet me might be surprised to learn I grew up figure skating and now coach skating!
I like to talk about movies, different coffee shops, food, hobbies.
Yaffa Reichwald
Graduate School Program: Neuroscience & Education (Teachers College)
Hometown(s): Queens, NY
People who meet me might be surprised to learn that I can speak four languages.
I like to talk about health, nutrition, and fitness.