Daniel W. Bennett
Executive Director
(303) 818-8207 | Daniel@HillelColorado.org
Daniel has been statewide director of Hillel of Colorado since 2016, the crowning chapter of a distinguished career devoted to Jewish communal service. He arrived in Colorado in 1979 after graduate studies at The Ohio State University and has lived in Colorado ever since – leading Jewish communal organizations to achieve their highest goals. Daniel’s first 18 years as a Jewish communal professional were spent as an educational leader: first as the initial Director of Jewish Studies at the Denver Jewish Day School (then called Herzl Day School); and then as director of education at Denver’s two largest synagogues: Temples Sinai & Emanuel. He is proud to have spearheaded the development of youth, family, and adult education programs while publishing, lecturing, and guiding the Jewish journeys of his students and families. Daniel has also led or directed fourteen teen Israel trips; played guitar for nearly one hundred B’nai Mitzvah; served for a dozen years as President and CEO of the Colorado Agency for Jewish Education (CAJE); and is honored to have spent a decade as Philanthropic Advisor to the Oak Tree Foundation in Denver.
In 2009 Daniel founded Sea Change Consulting, Inc. to guide local and national nonprofits. In that capacity he convened Hillel of Colorado stakeholders in 2015 and wrote Hillel’s strategic and business plans. Soon thereafter, Hillel engaged Daniel as statewide Executive Director to lead its turnaround, now complete. Daniel and his wife, Devorah are proud to have two forty‐something sons; two amazing daughters‐in‐law; a five-year-old grandson who studies at the day school Daniel helped put on the map in the 1980’s (!); and a Los Angeles-based granddaughter on the way (!!). Devorah and Daniel live in Denver with Porthos – their two-year old Australian-Cattle dog mix who thinks he’s in charge of everything.
Shira Teed
Assistant Director
(303) 339-4259 | Shira@HillelColorado.org
Shira arrived at Hillel in the summer of 2023 after nearly a dozen years at the Hebrew Educational Alliance, Denver’s largest Conservative synagogue, where she held multiple roles, most recently as the Director of Engagement. Growing up Shira was a leader in youth groups, and a camper in the Young Judaea movement. Following high school, she spent a gap year in Israel on Young Judaea Year Course, leading her on a path to becoming student board president of Appalachian State University’s Hillel.
After a Hillel fellowship following college, Shira began her career in hospitality working in operations and sales for Hyatt Hotels. In all aspects of her Hillel work, Shira brings a matchless relationship-centered outlook toward service and a deep dedication to assuring our students cross the bridge to their adult lives living their Jewish values. As a longtime Colorado resident, Shira enjoys live music and spending time outside with her husband, teenage son & and daughter, and of course their four legged baby, a pup named Suzy.
Lauren Behm
Auraria Campus Director of Jewish Student Life
(720) 773-0222 | Lauren@HillelColorado.org
Lauren has worked tirelessly to spearhead efforts to enhance Jewish community engagement at the Auraria Campus. Her commitment to fostering a sense of belonging and strengthening connections within the Jewish community is deeply personal. She grew up in a small town in Massachusetts with only a handful of Jewish families and attended college in Western Massachusetts as one of the few Jewish students on campus. It wasn’t until her young adult years, when she experienced Birthright, that she realized the richness, inclusiveness, and meaningful impact of Judaism in her life.
In 2019, Lauren, along with her family – her husband and two daughters, made the move from Massachusetts to Colorado. They found a warm and welcoming Jewish community in Denver, actively participating in community events, engaging in challah baking, and celebrating Kabbalat Shabbat with friends and family.
Lauren brings to the team a wealth of experience, boasting 18 years of professional expertise in operations, project management, and customer service. She has been able to leverage her operational acumen to develop a strategic plan for cultivating Jewish community engagement at the Auraria Campus. In her leisure time, Lauren enjoys quality moments with her family, travel, and loves playing in her tennis league.
Scott Gerstel
CSU Hillel Campus Director
(970) 391-5688 | Scott@HillelColorado.org
Scott serves as the Hillel of Colorado CSU Hillel Campus Director. He loves helping students as they grow into their adult lives with a solid foundation of Jewish principles, practices, and experiences. Scott grew up in sunny South Florida, and was an active leader in NFTY during his time in high school.
Throughout his time at the University of Central Florida, Scott was a strong leader both internally and externally for the Jewish community. Scott served as an engagement intern for UCF Hillel, was President of the Interfraternity Council, and held a handful of Student Government positions.
Scott’s first professional role after graduating was traveling the country for AEPi, the Jewish fraternity, and TAMID Group, a professional organization connecting students to Israel through different business opportunities. During this time, he got to see over 100+ college campuses and visit many of their Hillels. Scott spent a few years stint in the private sector and most recently traveled the world before returning to his passion of working in the Jewish communal space.
While not working or volunteering to organize Jewish groups, you can find Scott climbing a mountain, attempting to teach himself musical instruments, cooking one of the many recipes he’s picked up during his time traveling, or killing houseplants despite his best efforts to keep them alive.
Sophie Manis
DU Hillel Director of Engagement and Programs
(303) 339-4257 | Sophie@HillelColorado.org
Sophie is excited to join the Hillel of Colorado team, where she looks forward to building meaningful connections with students as they navigate this important stage of their lives.
Originally from Los Angeles and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Sophie was an active member of Temple Israel, participated in NFTY Southern, and spent her summers at URJ Jacobs Camp—experiences that sparked her passion for Jewish community and leadership. She later returned to California to attend Chapman University, earning her bachelor’s degree while serving in leadership roles across multiple campus organizations.
With a strong background in programming and student engagement, Sophie is eager to bring her skills to the University of Denver community. New to the Denver area, she’s excited to explore Colorado, dive into the local arts scene, and discover the city’s best coffee spots
Shoshanna Shachtman
Director of Wellness
Shoshanna joined the Hillel team in 2024, deciding move towards a change in her career. Continuing to run her 12 year old private practice as a Licensed Professional Counselor, she focuses her time working with individuals and couples. Concentrating on her deep values and beliefs around personal growth and healing, Shoshanna has been influenced by her deep connection to Judaism and its instrumental part in her professional practices. The past two years, Shoshanna has also been fortunate enough to work directly with the CSU men’s basketball team assisting in team building and individual growth and mindsets regarding collegiate athletics, as well as educating the coaching staff on team building and cohesion.
With two young active boys, Shoshanna and her husband Steve spend much of their time with family and friends, the Fort Collins Jewish community, and engaging in all things outdoors.
Victoria Brunner
Director of Development
719-298-7172 | Victoria@HillelColorado.org
Victoria joined Hillel of Colorado recently as the Development Director, where she builds and deepens philanthropic partnerships to support Jewish student life across campuses. Prior to joining Hillel, she was an entrepreneur in the micro mobility world and also spent several years working in nonprofit programming and development – most recently at a Boys & Girls Club, where she cultivated meaningful relationships and led successful multi‑year fundraising initiatives. In her role at Hillel, Victoria draws upon her skills in strategic planning, community engagement, and donor stewardship to secure resources that support Jewish student leadership programming, Hillel campus events & learning, and expand Israel travel experiences.
As a committed member of the Colorado Jewish community, Victoria has attended and volunteered with various local Front Range synagogues and participates actively in many of the Jewish community network events. She brings a relationship-centered and mission-driven approach to her work. Based in Denver, Victoria lives with her family and like most Coloradans loves the outdoors, enjoys paddleboarding, spending time with friends, and trouncing her family at boardgames (don’t tell her daughter she said that!)
Kitty Knaulls
Bookkeeper and Home Manager
(720) 364-9586 | Accounting@HillelColorado.org
Kitty moved to Denver in 1976 and immediately made her mark on the local music scene, celebrating America’s Bicentennial by performing in the Aurora Theatre Group’s musical “1776,” and singing with the Denver Opera Company. She utilized her accounting degree (with an emphasis on tax) during a stint at Price Waterhouse in the 1990’s, and still utilizes it in her side tax preparation business. When Kitty’s parents passed away, she felt called to be of greater service – which led to her nursing degree and career in the health care system.
Accepting a bookkeeping part-time temp job with Hillel of Colorado in 2012 brought Kitty back to the world of finance and permitted her to be of service in yet another way. She has been with us ever since, the longest-tenured member of Team Hillel. Our DU Hillel/HQ Building is Kitty’s second home (she’s often here seven-days/week), as she finds being in the building and with our tenants, students, and staff spiritual and peaceful. Kitty not only takes care of any bookkeeping, administrative, and facility need that arises, but is always available behind the scenes to the students & staff, making sure everything goes smoothly.