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.

Jeffrey’s career in nonprofit management and leadership has seen him working in various roles around the globe, from a Rescue Diver and Divemaster in Okinawa, Japan, to directing all Washington, DC operations for a global humanitarian organization. As the Director of Advocacy at Nazun, Jeffrey brings firsthand policy leadership experience from his time as a Global Advocacy Fellow at Results Educational Fund, a member of the Alliance to End Hunger, and as an executive team member on Rise Against Hunger’s legislative advocacy committee. In these roles, he worked to advocate for funding toward child and maternal health and education for women and girls in developing nations, and led a program producing 3.5 million meals in global humanitarian relief annually.

Jeffrey and his partner, River, have two beautiful sons, Jay and Kai, and a rescue border collie who all love to bike around town and play in their garden. Jeffrey’s personal life revolves around the ocean and its conservation, and he can be found fishing or diving with his sons on the South Shore of O’ahu, Hawai’i, or in used bookstores hunting for rare copies of his favorite book, Treasure Island. He holds a degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Law from Northern Arizona University and a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Finance from Cornell University. Currently, Jeffrey is a graduate student in the Master of Public Health Program at Yale University. 

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. 

Hannah grew up in Elkins Park, PA and graduated from Oberlin College with a degree in anthropology, gender studies, and French. Most recently, Hannah served for a year with Avodah: The Jewish Service Corps. Through Avodah, Hannah spent a year working as an advocate at a social services and soup kitchen community organization. In her free time, Hannah loves to listen to mystery podcasts and explore city parks.

Email her at hannah@nazun.org

Atika grew up in a small town in Connecticut before trading coasts to study psychology at Scripps College in California (where Nazun was founded and she volunteered!). Her interest in food security began at a young age when she traveled to India and Thailand, her parents’ home countries, and saw the disparities in food access. She has focused her professional career on food issues, from running a pop-up cafe to support health and education initiatives to assisting at events in support of farmers’ rights. In her free time, you can find her checking out local businesses, baking new recipes, or playing with her dog niece and nephew.

Email her at atika@nazun.org

Sarah is a PHENND Fellow at Nazun. She grew up in Bel Air, Maryland and has lived there most her life. Sarah is a recent graduate with a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Sociology from McDaniel College. She spent her time at McDaniel focusing on food insecurity and environmental equity. She hopes to use her service year to amplify the issue of campus hunger and work to become a leader in the anti-hunger space. Outside of work Sarah enjoys gardening, reading, cross stitching, and hiking.

Julie Ostroff grew up in Dresher, PA and is a senior at the University of Maryland, College Park. She is studying Communication and Public Policy with a focus in Nonprofit Leadership and Social Change Advocacy. She has involved herself with philanthropy and volunteering throughout high school and college, and hopes to pursue a career in the nonprofit sector making an impact on others after she graduates. She considers herself a major foodie and loves trying new restaurants, and in her spare time, enjoys traveling and spending time with friends and family.

Celia grew up in Abington, PA, and is currently a junior undergraduate student at Temple University working towards her Bachelor of Science in Community Development and minor in nutrition. Celia feels as though the three pillars of Nazun, advocacy, philanthropy, and community building have been instilled in her since she was a child and would attend countless volunteer events with her mom. In her spare time, Celia enjoys yoga, finding new recipes to try in the kitchen, playing her violin, and spending time outdoors.