Our Leadership

UJA-Federation of New York is led by committed leaders who reflect the diversity and dynamism of the New York Jewish community. Volunteers work hand in hand with professional staff, proudly upholding a more than 90-year tradition of creative collaboration.

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Jerry W. Levin

President

After serving as chair of the board for three years, among other leadership roles, Jerry W. Levin was appointed president of UJA-Federation on July 1, 2010.

Mr. Levin is chairman and chief executive officer of JW Levin Partners LLC, a New York City–based firm that specializes in the rebuilding of branded consumer product and service companies. He is currently chairman and chief executive officer of Wilton Brands, Inc., and sits on the boards of Ecolab Inc.; Saks Inc.; U.S. Bancorp; and Wilton Brands, Inc.

Mr. Levin is a trustee of the Hampton Synagogue, and serves on the Advisory Council of the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, the President’s Advisory Council of the University of Michigan, the Hillel International Board and the International Board of Tel Aviv University’s Recanati School of Business.

A graduate of the University of Michigan, with B.S.E. degrees in electrical engineering and mathematics, Mr. Levin received an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago.

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Alisa Robbins Doctoroff

Chair of the Board

Alisa Robbins Doctoroff is chair of the Board of UJA-Federation of New York. She previously served as chair of the Commission on Jewish Identity and Renewal after years of involvement with its work, particularly in Israel and with young people.

Ms. Doctoroff is a past president of the Abraham Joshua Heschel School and was instrumental in founding its high school division in 2001. She is active on the boards of a wide spectrum of organizations that promote engagement with Jewish life and identity through education, culture and religious life, including Moving Traditions, Mechon Hadar, and the Jewish Theological Seminary, where she chairs the Governance Committee. She is also past president of Congregation Or Zarua and co-founder of the Jewish Lens.

Ms. Doctoroff graduated from Harvard College and received an M.B.A at the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. She also holds an M.A. in Jewish Studies from the Jewish Theological Seminary.  She lives in
Manhattan with her husband, Dan, with whom she has three children.

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John S. Ruskay, Ph.D.

Executive Vice President & CEO

John S. Ruskay first came to UJA-Federation in 1993 and served in several positions before being appointed executive vice president and CEO in October 1999.

After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh in 1968, Dr. Ruskay earned his doctorate in political science at Columbia University. He served as educational director of the 92nd Street Y from 1980 to 1985, and vice chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America from 1985 to 1993.

Dr. Ruskay has written extensively and speaks nationally on how the American Jewish community can most effectively respond to the challenges and opportunities of living in an open society, the critical role of Jewish philanthropy, and the central role of community.

He has served as a senior consultant to the Wexner Foundation and the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Foundation, and has chaired the Publication Committee of the Journal of Jewish Communal Service and the Professional Advisory Committee of the Hornstein Jewish Professional Leadership Program.

Dr. Ruskay has received many honors, including the Bernard Reisman Award for Professional Excellence from Brandeis University’s Hornstein Program, the Mandelkorn Distinguished Service Award from the Jewish Communal Service Association of North America, and an honorary doctorate of humane letters awarded by the Jewish Theological Seminary.

On December 8, 2009, Dr. Ruskay’s 10th anniversary as executive vice president and CEO, and UJA-Federation’s work in that time, was commemorated with a symposium and a special issue of the Journal of Jewish Communal Service.