Our Staff

Paul Bessemer, Executive Director
paul@oregonhillel.org, (541) 343-8920 ext. 101

Paul has worked in academia in a variety of functions (university level instructor, researcher and translator), with a background in Middle East and Jewish history and in recent years in K-12 education. He has also more than a decade of experience working with youth as an exchange coordinator, Jewish afternoon school instructor and post-b’nai mitzvah youth educator.  Since arriving in Eugene in the fall of 2001, he has been very active in volunteer community organizations. Among his interests are scholarly research on Turkey, Turkish Jewry, gardening and cooking.

Suzy Sostrin-Rainer, Assistant Director
suzy@oregonhillel.org, (541) 343-8920 ext. 102

Suzy has been working in the Jewish community since graduating from University California, Santa Cruz in 2000 with a B.A. in Community Studies and a minor in Education. Through her work with Jewish summer camps, youth movements, and Hillel she has had the pleasure of watching campers become Hillel leaders and Hillel leaders become community leaders.  Suzy was selected as one of  eight Hillel professionals from across North America to participate in ACCELERATE, an executive training program that prepares individuals to become Hillel directors. Over the next school year she will be traveling to Hillel’s headquarters in Washington D.C., and to Hillel’s across the United States to learn and develop key professional competencies, gain exposure to leadership and skill training, as well as working with an amazing mentor.  Suzy is extremely passionate about creating a warm and inclusive environment at University of Oregon’s Hillel. One of her favorite parts of working at Hillel is watching each generation of students make Hillel their own. She is always interested in hearing students idea’s for programs and brainstorming with them to create different opportunities at UO Hillel especially if the brainstorming is over a cup of coffee. 

Not Pictured:
Chuck Runde, Office Administrator
chuck@oregonhillel.org, (541) 343-8920 ext. 100