Board of Directors
The Board oversees the goals, vision, and development of Hillel at Ohio University.
President Fred Weiner
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Longtime community member Dr. Alfred (Fred) Weiner served as board member and board president for over 20 years, most recently in 2003. Since then, Fred has continued to support OU Hillel, including establishing the Hy Weiner Student Fellowship which annually provides funding to support a student intern. As a couple, Fred and Carole Weiner regularly host an annual end of year party for community members, while Carole has served as song leader for Shabbat and High Holiday services, and for special children’s programs. Fred most recently conducted a successful fundraising campaign with local community members in support of a service leader for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. In his professional life, Fred recently retired from Ohio University after 51 years where he most recently served as Director of Counseling and Psychological Services.
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Secretary Lia Silver
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Lia Silver is an adjunct instructor of writing at Ohio University and Hocking College. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Washington University in St. Louis, from which she also received a postgraduate fellowship. Her bachelor's degree is from Miami University of Ohio, where she majored in Interdisciplinary Studies. Lia has served as an AmeriCorps VISTA and has worked in the social services field, in both management and direct service positions. She lives in Athens County with her husband and two children.
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Treasurer Marvin Fletcher
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Marvin Fletcher, a retired Ohio University History professor, came to Athens in 1968. One of the things that drew him and his wife, Hilary, to Athens was the presence of Hillel. He has participated in a variety of activities centering around Hillel, including his own bar mitzvah (at age 31) and those of his two sons. He also served on the Hillel board in the 1970s. Among their donations to Hillel is the Torah cover, partially designed by his late wife Hilary and created by Deborah Anderson, a quilt artist in Columbus.
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Adam Ben-Porath
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Adam Ben-Porath is a graduate student at Ohio University studying Higher Education. Adam is an active member of the Jewish community at Ohio University and is also a vocal advocate for the State of Israel. A self-described Zionist and son of an Israeli immigrant, Adam takes issues dealing with Israel to heart and is passionate about countering racist and antisemitic movements including The Boycott, Divest, and Sanctions (BDS) Movement and Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP). Adam hopes to work to reach out to all Jewish students on campus, to make them feel welcomed and at home at Hillel regardless of what kind of Jewish upbringing they may have had. Growing up in a largely secular family himself, Adam truly believes that Hillel has something to offer everyone.
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Matt Freedman
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Matt Freedman is Senior Vice President of Branding at Continental Office—a Columbus-based workplace furnishings company.
Matt is a Chicago-area native and graduated from Ohio University in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and in 1998 with a Master’s of Sports Administration and Facility Management. While on campus, Matt served as president of Alpha Epsilon Pi, anchored the news on ACTV-7 television and led tours to prospective students. Matt makes frequent trips to Athens for client meetings and to support the Bobcat football and basketball teams. In Columbus, Matt keeps busy by serving as a board member at Temple Israel, chairing The Columbus Jewish Federation's marketing committee, and participating in adult sports leagues at the Jewish Community Center. He lives in New Albany with his wife, Lisa Schmerler Freedman, and three young daughters. |
Chad Leiken
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Chad Leikin is Senior Management Accountant at The NRP Group — a Cleveland-based apartment developer, general contractor and property manager. Chad is a Cleveland native and graduated from Ohio University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance. While on campus, Chad served on the executive board of Alpha Epsilon Pi, worked and had an internship at in the University’s internal audit department, and was a member of Beta Alpha Psi – an honors accounting fraternity. In the past several years, Chad has made annual trips back to Athens in a recruitment capacity for his former employers. In Cleveland, Chad keeps busy by serving as a Cleveland Jewish Federation YLD board member, attending various Cleveland sporting events, and golfing. He lives in Cleveland with his long-time girlfriend Leslie Shvets, who is also a proud Ohio University Graduate.
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