Center for Jewish Life/Hillel

Marni Blitz, Associate Director, has been with the Center for Jewish Life - Hillel at Princeton University since 2007..  Marni was born and raised in Rockville, Maryland where she graduated from the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School.  Marni holds a B.A. in International Relations from Emory University and an M.A. in Near Eastern Languages and Literature from NYU. Before coming to Princeton, Marni was the Director of Education at Temple Beth-El of Great Neck.  Marni currently lives in Robbinsville, NJ with her husband, Neil, and her two daughters, Daniella and Rebecca. Marni is the 2010 recipient of the Richard M. Joel Exemplar of Excellence award for her commitment to fulfilling Hillel’s mission of service to Jewish students around the globe. Marni joyfully adheres to an "open door" policy, so please feel free to stop in at any time and say hello!  

Sara Wolkenfeld holds a B.A. in Judaica and Comparative Literature from University of Pennsylvania, but has renounced allegiance to any former sports teams as a JLIC educator at Princeton (Go Tigers!). Sara has completed coursework towards a Master's degree in Talmud at Yeshiva University. She has studied Talmud and Jewish Law at Midreshet Lindenbaum, Drisha, Pardes, Nishmat, and Beit Morashah. Sara taught at Hampton Synagogue in Westhampton Beach, NY, at United Orthodox Synagogues of Houston as an intern for two years, and as a Beit Midrash Fellow at SAR Academy in Riverdale, NY. Sara also teaches Hilkhot Nidah (laws for married couples) to brides and engaged couples. Originally from Teaneck, NJ, Sara is excited to be once again living in the Garden State. Sara's interests include theatre, dance, shopping with her sisters, and playing with her sons Noam, Akiva, and Hillel. Her favorite prophet is Jeremiah, favorite sage is Rabbi Yehoshua Ben Levi, and favorite modern Jewish writer is Cynthia Ozick.

Rabbi Sara Rich is thrilled to be a part of the CJL team. She was ordained from the New York campus of the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion. As a student, Sara served as a student rabbi in Williamsport, PA (home of Little League!) and Brampton, Ontario. She also worked with the wonderful people at the Brooklyn Heights Synagogue, Central Conference of American Rabbis, Greene Family Camp and Bellevue Hospital Center. Sara earned a B.A. in Psychology from the University of MD, College Park and looks forward to morphing from Terrapin to Tiger. Today, Sara resides in Manhattan with her husband Ezra, and if you can’t find them biking around the neighborhood, check the diner. Sara cannot wait to meet, teach, and learn from Princeton’s finest students!

Robin Rudofker joined the CJL staff as Development Director in February 2012.  Robin was raised in Cheltenham, PA where she developed a deep love for sports and especially for her hometown teams - The Philadelphia Eagles, Flyers and Phillies.  Robin earned a B.A. in Psychology from Brandeis University and an M.B.A. in Marketing from Drexel University.  Prior to her arrival at the CJL, she worked for 16 years at the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey as Chief Development Officer and Marketing Director.  Robin lives in Vorhees, NJ with her husband, Jim, and their two sons, Matthew and Isaac.  When she's not busy raising critically-needed funds to grow the programs of the CJL, Robin enjoys Pilates, tennis, dancing, and movies.  She loves all types of music and is a die-hard Bruce Springsteen fan!

Susan Johanesen joined the CJL in July 2009 after 25 years of owning and operating an office support business. In her role as Executive Assistant, she provides support to the Executive Director and Development Director, maintains development databases, does the bookkeeping and handles the many other functions that keep the office running. If you're not sure who to ask, she is happy to help you. She enjoys writing fiction and recently received a B.A. in English. In her free time she tutors writing and study skills, working with adult learners at community colleges. Susan has three children, two working in visual design in New York City and one who recently received her PhD in geology and is teaching in Maine. She loves camping with her two granddaughters, ages two and five, in the summer and exploring NYC and Brooklyn with them throughout the year.

Ruth Palmer joined the CJL in 2009 and is delighted to serve as the CJL's administrator and be part of a staff committed to creating a community that is so supportive of students and welcoming to all. Ruth started her Princeton career in 2007 as part of the first Whitman College staff. Ruth resides just a few miles north of Princeton in Montgomery Township with her husband, Bob, and two teenage daughters, Rebecca and Laura. Ruth holds a B.A. in Telecommunications from Indiana University, Bloomington. Most of her career was spent at AT&T as a manager supporting business long distance customers. Before coming to Princeton, Ruth devoted several years to the homefront, also serving as a school volunteer, freelance writer and substitute teacher. Ruth currently enjoys volunteering for her church and the high school band program as a marching band chaperone, organizer of fundraising events or whatever she can do to support the band program. Ruth also enjoys biking, hiking, and anything outdoors.

Krystyna Raporte received a B.A. from the Warsaw School of Economics in 1993 and did graduate work in Economics at the University of Brussels. Krystyna has over a decade of experience in finance with a concentration in accounting, planning and reporting.  These management positions include Philip Morris International, Honeywell and U.K. based Provident. In 2006 Krystyna relocated to Princeton with her husband and two children after living in Poland, Taiwan and Argentina. Krystyna is fluent in French, Spanish, Russian and Polish.