Alyssa Berman Bender

Alyssa serves as the Director of Development at Penn State Hillel, where she leads philanthropic engagement and fundraising efforts to support vibrant Jewish life on campus. She brings nearly five years of experience within the Hillel movement and a deep commitment to the impact of Jewish college experiences.

Alyssa began her Hillel journey as a highly involved student leader at Hillel JUC at the University of Pittsburgh, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in political science and Jewish studies. After graduation, she worked as a student life professional at Columbia/Barnard Hillel and later as a fundraising professional at Hillel International, where she focused on grassroots fundraising and philanthropic partnerships across the movement.

Now based in Center City, Alyssa enjoys cheering on all the Philly sports teams and exploring local coffee shops and restaurants. She is on the hunt for the best breakfast burrito in Philly.

Alyssa loves connecting with people, hearing their stories, and learning what inspires them about Jewish campus life. She is always happy to talk about what Hillel means to you, hear your ideas and reflections, and explore how you can partner together to help Penn State Hillel continue to grow and thrive.