We are extremely pleased to announce that earlier today, UJA-Federation’s Board of Directors unanimously voted to appoint Dr. Michael A. Kay as our next Chief Executive Officer. He will begin his tenure as CEO on October 5, 2026.
Currently Head of School at The Leffell School (formerly the Solomon Schechter School of Westchester), Michael has, over 13 years, transformed it into one of the nation’s preeminent multidenominational K-12 Jewish day schools. He reimagined what a Jewish educational institution can be, bringing people together across differences through respectful dialogue and finding a path to shared understanding. In doing so, he built a nonpartisan community rooted in academic excellence, expanded enrollment, and strengthened philanthropic support, including through partnership with UJA’s Day School Challenge Fund.
In selecting Michael, a magna cum laude graduate of Harvard College with a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Jewish Studies from New York University, we were guided by a core conviction: Never has the need to foster Jewish identity and leadership, deepen commitment to Israel, and cultivate a deep love of community been more urgent. Michael holds a long and impressive record of inspiring and shaping the next generation of proud Jews and Zionists. He is a bold, future-focused thinker, an intellectually rigorous leader, and a relationship-builder of the highest order, combining strategic vision with a practical understanding of how to build and grow institutions. He is deeply committed to all that UJA is, to its mission as it stands today, and to leading UJA into the future in service of the full breadth of the Jewish community and all the audiences we serve.
When Eric S. Goldstein announced his intention to step down, we assembled a distinguished 14-member search committee including past and incoming UJA chairs and presidents, along with some of our most committed senior leaders.
Since then, this group has conducted an exhaustive national search, engaging more than 40 highly accomplished candidates from the private sector, higher education, government, and the nonprofit world. The process culminated in a unanimous decision, reflecting full confidence in and enthusiasm for Michael’s leadership.
The search committee comprised Amy A. B. Bressman, Dorit Corwin, Alisa R. Doctoroff, Linda Mirels, David L. Moore, Joshua L. Nash, Michael E. Olshan, Suzanne F. Peck, Marc Rowan, Jeffrey A. Schoenfeld, Jodi J. Schwartz, John M. Shapiro, Merryl H. Tisch, and David H. Wasserman. It was supported by Heidrick & Struggles.
As Michael Leffell, Lifetime Honorary Trustee and Past President of The Leffell School, shared: “Michael’s ability to inspire, unify, and move an organization and community forward is rare and invaluable. The demands of running a school have shaped him into a strong, resilient leader who is deeply respected and beloved by students, faculty, parents, alumni, and the wider community. After decades of close involvement with both UJA and The Leffell School, I can think of no one better to lead UJA forward. The New York Jewish community is extraordinarily fortunate to have him.”
We recognize this as a pivotal and historic moment for the global Jewish community. Antisemitism is surging, becoming increasingly normalized on all sides. The stakes could not be higher. This reality demands new investments in security and civic engagement, even as rising needs for critical human services and the ongoing work of rebuilding in Israel intensify. At the same time, we are witnessing a powerful resurgence of Jewish pride, identity, connection, and community. We firmly believe that Michael is ready to confront these overlapping challenges head-on and seize new opportunities.
UJA-Federation stands today in a position of strength thanks in large part to Eric S. Goldstein and the outstanding team who work beside him. Over the past 12 years, he has led our community through historic crises while embracing innovation, laying the foundation for UJA's second century, and deepening connections across a diverse communal landscape. Under his leadership, the community's generosity yielded record-breaking fundraising results. Eric shares our full confidence in Michael and is an active participant in this next chapter.
We are grateful that Eric will continue as CEO through October 4, partnering with Michael to ensure a seamless transition.
We look forward to seeing UJA and the community we represent go from strength to strength under Michael’s leadership.
With thanks,
Linda Mirels
President
Marc Rowan
Chair of the Board
About Dr. Michael A. Kay
Dr. Michael A. Kay has been a leader in North American Jewish life for more than two decades. Since 2013, he has served as head of school at The Leffell School, a K–12 Jewish independent school serving 835 students on two campuses in Westchester County, NY.
Prior to joining The Leffell School, Michael served as Upper School principal and director of Judaic Studies at the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School in Rockville, MD. He also led Camp Givah, a Jewish summer camp in upstate New York. Across these roles, he has worked extensively at the intersection of education, nonprofit leadership, and community building. A highly regarded teacher of Jewish text and Jewish history for both youth and adults, Michael is a frequent speaker, consultant, and scholar-in-residence for a wide range of organizations, including conferences, foundations, synagogues, and communal institutions. His work and presentations address issues that resonate across sectors, including religious pluralism, change management, endowment fundraising, and organizational finance.
Michael holds an undergraduate degree in religion and history from Harvard College and a Ph.D. in educational leadership and Jewish studies from New York University, where he wrote his dissertation on leadership and community building in pluralistic Jewish institutions.
Michael and his wife, Rachel — senior vice president and chief people officer at the Hearst Corporation — live in White Plains, NY, and have two children. They are active members of Temple Israel Center of White Plains.