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PROFESSional
leadership
CHELSEA REGO
Executive Director
Chelsea Rego brings bold Jersey roots, Miami sunshine, and a whole lot of heart to Hillel at Binghamton. With a background that includes serving as Assistant Principal at a Jewish day school for students with special needs and leading a thriving synagogue, she has spent her career building Jewish communities that are welcoming, dynamic, and just the right amount of chaotic in the best way. Chelsea leads with intention and connection whether she’s guiding students, building meaningful relationships with alumni, parents, and donors, or collaborating with community partners to strengthen Jewish life. She’s the kind of person who can map out a strategic vision, empower her team, and still make time to cheer you on when you land that internship all before lunch. She’s passionate about helping students connect to their Jewish identity in real, personal ways, whether through deep conversations, joyful holiday celebrations, or the magic of a well-timed one-liner.
Outside of Hillel, you’ll probably find Chelsea lifting heavy things at the gym, playing with her two favorite little humans (a.k.a. her children), cooking something delicious, or diving into a PC game (Blizzard titles are her jam). A lifelong volunteer, Chelsea has taught STEM in inner-city libraries across Miami-Dade and Broward counties and served as an EMT during high school and early college. She’s currently pursuing her MBA because she believes in leveling up always. Her favorite Jewish holiday is Passover because nothing beats good food, family chaos, and a story that still resonates thousands of years later. She’s here to help students feel seen, celebrated, and totally empowered to make Jewish life their own.
Email: executivedirector@hillelatbinghamton.org
JASMINE BUZZELLA (She/They)
Springboard Ezra Jewish Education Specialist
Jasmine Buzzella was born and raised in Gainesville, FL before moving two and a half hours northwest to Tallahassee to attend Florida State University. She earned her bachelor's degree summa cum laude with a double major in psychology and theatre. Jasmine grew up attending Hebrew school and participating in Junior Congregation during Shabbos services. She has always been proud of her Judaism and dove deeper into various aspects of the religion and culture after moving away from home. She is passionate about learning different ways to observe ancient traditions and is eager to expand her knowledge on new methods of engaging with Judaism. She is especially excited about supporting those who are finding their way on their own Jewish journey.
After having the honor of traveling to Israel on a Birthright trip that combined universities from all over Florida, she was inspired to become more involved with Hillel at FSU. She worked diligently to plan programs involving social justice issues such as race and gender inequality. In addition to her passion for Judaism, Jasmine is fascinated with being in nature, listening to music, and making films. She has two pets, a leopard gecko named Olive and a stubby-tailed cat named Carrot, whom she loves deeply and could not picture her life without! She dreams of attending school in Israel in the future to earn a Master’s Degree and PhD in the field of research psychology, focusing on developmental and abnormal psychology. She is ecstatic about the opportunity to provide guidance and support for the students at Hillel at Binghamton University and to finally experience real snow!
Email: springboard@hillelatbinghamton.org
YAARA TZANANI (She/Her)
Jewish Agency Israel Fellow
Yaara grew up in Rishon LeZion, in central Israel and has been involved with the "Bnei Akiva" Youth movement since the age of 10, she participating in a volunteer project that aimed to helping the welfare population when she was 16 years old.
Yaara has served in the national service in Israel in formal and informal education systems, working with children with disabilities, teenagers, and families. Additionally, she worked in a kindergarten for children with autism aged 2-4 after completing her national service.
Yaara holds a bachelor's degree in communications with a specialization in film and television from Ariel University. During her degree, she managed a project for people with disabilities and volunteered in the university's student unions as an activist in the culture and events department and the yearbook representative responsible for the student's rights and obligations. After completing her degree, she worked as an education and travel coordinator for the young Maccabiah at the 21st Maccabiah. She also worked on media projects for local television and spent about a year in the Israel Police as a production officer, where she directed, produced, and filmed content and image videos for the Israeli Police.
Yaara is enthusiastic about establishing strong relationships with the students and aims to be a supportive mentor to them. She also hopes to share her personal story and introduce the students to Israel from her perspective. Additionally, she plans to organize meaningful events centered
Email: israel@hillelatbinghamton.org
RAV JARED & SARIT ANSTANDIG
OU-JLIC Directors
Before moving to campus, Rav Jared and Sarit lived in Toronto, where they taught Judaic Studies at Bnei Akiva Schools. Rav Jared also served as a rabbi at Shaarei Shomayim Congregation and Sarit served as a community Yoetzet Halacha. Rav Jared and Sarit worked together as JLIC directors to build a community for university students living in the “down south” part of Toronto.
Prior to their time in Toronto, the Anstandigs lived in Teaneck, New Jersey and Ann Arbor, Michigan. Rav Jared taught at Ramaz Upper School, and also served as the Orthodox rabbi at University of Michigan Hillel and of the Ann Arbor Orthodox Minyan (AAOM). Sarit taught at Yeshivat Frisch in Paramus, New Jersey and at Farber Hebrew Day School in Southfield, Michigan. Rav Jared also served as a Reservist and 1st Lieutenant in the US Army Chaplain Corps.
Emails: anstandigJ@ou.org & anstandigS@ou.org
CANTOR ABBE LYONS (She/Her)
Business Manager
Cantor Abbe Lyons is thrilled to continue with Hillel at Binghamton as Business Manager. She also serves as Jewish Chaplain and Business Manager for Hillel at Ithaca College. She grew up on Long Island but fell in love with upstate NY in her teens, and graduated from Ithaca College with a major in voice performance in 1987. She is adjunct faculty at ALEPH Ordination Programs where she received cantorial smicha in 2010. She lives in Ithaca with her wife, son, mother-in-law and 2 cats. Fun fact: Abbe was certified as an auto mechanic in brakes and front end for 2 years in the early '80s.
Email: abbe@hillelatbinghamton.org
RACHEL MILLER (She/Her)
Campus Marketing and Development Manager
Rachel is a new Campus Marketing and Development Manager. Prior to her work at Hillel, Rachel served as the marketing and communications coordinator at Hazon, the Jewish Lab for Sustainability, where she oversaw social media, designed advertising campaigns, and crafted email promotions. In addition to her work in marketing, Rachel has experience as a clothing designer emphasizing the role of technology and innovation in performance wear.
Rachel holds a Bachelor of Science in Consumer, Apparel and Retail Studies with a concentration in Apparel Product Design from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. In her downtime she enjoys crafting of all sorts, live musical theater and playing video and tabletop games. Rachel has recently relocated to her hometown in Greensboro, NC with her husband, daughter and their two dogs.
Email: rmiller@hillel.org
MADDIE HERRUP (She/Her)
JTS Rabbinical Intern
Maddie is a first-year rabbinical student at The Jewish Theological Seminary. Maddie grew up in Pittsburgh, PA and got her BA in Anthropology and Public Health from Brandeis University. After undergrad, she went on to spend the last two years as the Springboard Social Justice Fellow with Greater Portland (PDX) Hillel, falling in love with Hillel work and with the Pacific Northwest. She looks forward to returning to Hillel and bringing her passions for Judaism and mindfulness (and overall good vibes) to Binghamton Hillel students!
Email: maherrup@jtsa.edu
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