Amy Posner Honored for Commitment to Staten Island Youth
Amy Posner, Executive Director of Hillel at the College of Staten Island (CSI), is an incredible influence on the young people that she works with.
Born and raised in the Washington DC area, Posner graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Arts in Recreation and Leisure Service Administration. Recreational studies was, and still is, an uncommon field within the United States, primarily focusing on the teaching and implementation of parks and recreational services.
“At the time, there were only ten schools across the country that offered majors in recreation,” says Posner. “People would always laugh at me and ask, ‘What’s that? Basket-weaving 101?’ But in reality, people with recreation majors were learning how to run sports centers, work in the Parks Department, and generate thoughtful urban planning.”
Upon graduating, Posner started her first job working at a youth development organization, the very beginning of her journey with children and young adults. When asked about her decision to work with kids, Posner immediately lit up remembering her own childhood.
“I ended up working with youth because of my personal experiences with summer camp,” excites Posner. “I went to camp a lot as a kid, and I loved all the feelings of community, tradition, comradery, and independence. It inspired me to do my own youth work.”
Once she got married and relocated to New York, Posner took time off to raise her young children, during which she also sold real estate part-time. However, her true passion was always working with youth, and as soon as her kids were old enough, she went right back to educating. For six years, Posner worked as a Program Manager for the Central New York Girl Scout Council, where she proudly designed and managed educational programs for over 9,000 girls each year.
Following the Girl Scout Council, Posner was serendipitously offered the position of Camp Director at Camp Edward Isaacs of the Central Queens Young Men and Young Women’s Hebrew Association (YM-YWHA), which she happily accepted, hoping to be the same positive influence that impacted her so much as a child. At the Central Queens YM-YWHA, Posner supervised a staff of over 100 educators and created, managed, and implemented the programming for approximately 200 children each summer.
During her time as a Camp Director, Posner re-discovered her love for Judaism and decided to pursue a Masters degree in Jewish Education at the Jewish Theological Seminary. “I was in my 40s when I started my Masters,” laughs Posner. “I was working full-time and had kids to take care of, but I still went back to school. I really loved it; it allowed me to delve into a deeper level of learning than I ever had before, and now I try to transfer that to my work.”
While Posner loved her time at the Girl Scout Council and the Central Queens YM-YWHA, she really found her home when she started as Executive Director of Hillel at CSI. Hillel International is the largest Jewish campus organization to date with chapters at over 850 colleges and universities around the world. The organization, which was formed in 1923, aims to provide a safe space for college students to celebrate and participate in Jewish life among their peers.
Hillel at CSI was started in 2002, just six years before Posner became Executive Director. When Posner took on the role, she completely transformed the organization. She came in with a warm smile and endless positive energy and quickly earned the trust of her students, who have loved her ever since. Posner entirely embodies Hillel’s mission of “enriching the lives of Jewish students,” and she works hard to maintain the community she has built.
“Hillel International is the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life, but Hillel at CSI goes way beyond that,” says Posner. “We serve all students at the college, regardless of religion.”
Posner has made it a priority to keep her door open to every student at CSI, offering herself and Hillel as a resource, somewhere to grab a snack between classes and meet new friends, and a comfortable space to be vulnerable with one another.
“In the last three years, especially as a result of the pandemic, we’ve recognized a real need for mental health wellness among our students,” adds Posner. “There was a lot of stress around quarantining, getting work done, and accessing the tools to attend classes, so Hillel instituted a wellness initiative using social work interns to help our students cope with the pandemic and tap into mental health resources.”
Posner is constantly thinking about how she can help her students thrive. Since starting at Hillel, she has introduced five major programs, including a career counseling service and a grant-funded interfaith initiative, which have all uplifted the CSI community in unique ways.
“We sprung into action about five years ago when it became evident that there was a food insecurity issue among college students,” says Posner. “We started connecting students to food pantry resources across the New York metropolitan area. Since then, we’ve developed a relationship with the JCC of Staten Island, which runs a kosher and halal food pantry.”
For her accomplishments, Posner is being honored with a Louis R. Miller Business Leadership Award, which she will receive in the Not-for-Profit Businessperson category. The awards, which are presented by the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce and the Staten Island Advance, honor the memory of Louis R. Miller, a businessman and West Brighton resident who was also a community leader.
Although not a Staten Island resident, Posner could not be more involved in the Staten Island community. Since becoming Executive Director of Hillel at CSI, Posner has developed strong relationships with various community organizations, such as the Jewish Life Committee at the Jewish Community Center, the Albanian Cultural Center, the Holocaust Center at Wagner College, the Staten Island Not for Profit Association, and all of Staten Island’s synagogues.
In addition to having such a close relationship with so many Staten Island community members, Posner is also well-connected with the other CUNY Hillel Directors, maintaining contact and constantly collaborating on projects. She also works with other campus organizations to provide exciting, quality programming that appeals to all students.
Posner’s work on Staten Island is immeasurable, and her support for youth cannot be matched. Posner connects with her students on a deep, personal level, leading Hillel with the confidence and grace that is necessary in working with young adults.
“CSI is such a place of opportunity for our students,” says Posner of the college that she is proud to represent. “The school really goes out of its way to do its best for the young people of Staten Island, and we try to help as much as we can.”
Current occupation: Executive Director, Hillel at the College of Staten Island.
Hometown: I was born in Philadelphia but grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Past occupations: Director of Camp Edward Isaacs of the Central Queens Y and Program Manager for the Girl Scouts in Central New York.
Community involvement: I am involved with the Staten Island JCC, serving on the Jewish Education Committee and teaching for the CLLD program there, and I have received both a Dor L’Dor Award and an Esther Grushkin Award. I also serve on the CUNY Interfaith Council and chair the Adult Education Committee at my Synagogue.
Some of my life goals include: I love to travel, and I hope to see and experience as much of the world’s splendor as possible.
The best part of my job: The students! I enjoy being around them; they are fun and keep me young. I am grateful for the opportunity to make a difference in their lives.
The most difficult part of my job: Raising enough funds for our organization – people are generous, but it’s not an easy task, and we never have enough resources. I am also sad to have to be working on trying to hold antisemitism at bay, through education and raising awareness. There is a significant rise in antisemitism here on Staten Island, as well as all over the country and the world.
My life philosophy: To always go the extra mile: to push ahead and do my very best in all things.
I am most proud of: I am very proud of our Hillel, it’s truly dedicated Board of Directors, and the work we have done as campus partners. I’m proud of our students and of CSI. But, I am MOST proud of my beautiful family: my husband, David, my three children and their spouses, and my fabulous grandchildren.
Something that no one knows about me: My dad was in the Navy, and we lived in Japan for three years when I was a child.
Personal interests and hobbies: I love to cook and I am an avid reader. I enjoy learning all sorts of history, and especially am intrigued by folklore and different cultures. My husband and I get out and hike many a weekend, and I like bird watching and spotting wildlife.
I laugh at: Right now, I’m catching up on “Derry Girls.” That show has me laughing almost every episode.
I am really good at: Being a friend, mother, grandmother, and teacher. And making chicken soup with matzoh balls.
I admire: People who are able to see beyond their own interests to find understanding and respect and come together in compromise and collaboration.