Our Team

Celia was born and raised on the Gulf Coast in Mobile, Alabama where her love of Judaism and passion for social justice work were stoked from a young age. She attended Rhodes College in Memphis where she received a BA in English and Religious Studies and will complete her MS in Nonprofit Management from Johnson & Wales University in the summer of 2021.

Celia has enjoyed a 15-year professional career in nonprofit administration bolstered by her work in the Jewish communal sector. Beginning her journey in Memphis at Temple Israel, she worked as a religious school teacher and Rosh Hodesh program leader throughout college and later as the Youth and Family Life Director.  Following that, Celia changed gears and worked as a regional outreach director to help provide ABA (applied behavior analysis) therapy to children with autism, specifically children of military parents.  Celia returned to her roots in Jewish communal work at Congregation Micah in Nashville in 2015, where she served as communications director and then executive director.

One of Celia’s proudest moments was being selected as the Youth Worker of the Month for the Union of Reform Judaism in Aug. 2008 and being awarded a Belin Outreach and Membership Award in 2009 for her work in membership engagement at Temple Israel.

Celia is thrilled to continue her career as Sr Director of Finance and Operations at Nazun, working with a team of inspiring professionals and volunteers to advocate, build community, and raise awareness.

In her free time, Celia enjoys volunteering for HOBY (Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership), traveling the world, cooking, and spending time with her husband Aaron and their children, Archer and Shoshana.

Rabbi Lily is a lifelong educator who became a rabbi to create Jewish spaces that are accessible to all. Rabbi Lily holds degrees in Theatre Arts and Jewish Studies from Brandeis University, and has studied at Hadar Institute, Romemu Yeshiva, and the Jewish Theological Seminary. They received ordination from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and have worked in a variety of settings, from summer camps and Hillels, to retirement homes and synagogues. Rabbi Lily is passionate about the intersections of Jewish values and social justice, using Jewish ritual and learning to strengthen community commitment to change. Lily lives in Maine with their wife, Lanni, a fluffy ginger cat, and a very energetic puppy. Outside of work Lily is an avid hiker, gardener, and devoted science-fiction nerd.

Lexi has been helping passionate philanthropic individuals, foundations, and corporations make meaningful impacts since 2010. Like Margaret Mead, she believes that a small group of committed people can change the world. "...Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Tikkun Olam is an important aspect of who she is. 

Lexi loves getting to know people, to uncover what truly matters to them, to learn how they see themselves and the world around them, and to hear their stories in all their detail. Her favorite moments are the calls to benefactors to celebrate the impacts of their contributions.

Before joining the team of Nazun, Lexi held positions with organizations which appealed to her wide interests. Lexi helped to fight the Climate Crisis at Climate Action Campaign,  to redefine the museum experience at Lux Art Institute (now the Institute of Contemporary Art, San Diego), and to investigate the neurovascular component of neurodegenerative disease at the Hubbard Foundation.

Throughout her non-profit journey, Lexi has maintained a strong connection to Jewish values and the community. Studying Hebrew, baking gluten-free challah, teaching Hebrew School, and starting a Jewish Yoga class built on chassidic philosophy, all helped her retain her connection to her roots. 

She relocated to Dallas from San Diego with her husband, two daughters, and family dog. 

Sarah grew up in Bel Air, Maryland and graduated from McDaniel College with a degree in Environmental Studies and Sociology. She spent her time at McDaniel focusing on food insecurity and environmental equity. Most recently, Sarah completed a service year through AmeriCorps. Outside of work Sarah enjoys gardening, reading, cross stitching, and hiking.