The Brody Jewish Center (Hillel at the University of Virginia) announced a new strategic plan for 2026-2029, which will support the nearly 1,000 students who engaged in educational programs at the Center last year, more than 90 students in leadership development positions, and six full-time staff.
The new plan will give students more ownership of Jewish life on campus, offering at least one cohort-based Jewish learning experience each semester, building connections for students from their first year through graduation, and opening the Hillel building to graduate students.
“The students are just incredibly inspiring to me,” says Gwen Goodkin, a member of the Brody Jewish Center’s board of directors. “Their enthusiasm for Judaism and for Jewish community on campus, their vision, their motivation, all of the ideals where UVA’s culture and Jewish culture at UVA come together. That’s why I’m here – because the students just blow me away.”
The strategy follows nearly two decades of growth at the Brody Jewish Center and comes as Jewish student engagement is on the rise across the nation. Hillel International reported that nearly 190,000 students engaged in its programs during the 2025-2026 school year, and the Center’s new plan is designed to meet that demand while deepening students’ connection to Jewish life.
Several students say the Center has become a meaningful part of their college experience, and for some it has opened the door to Jewish identities they hadn’t always felt connected to.
“It wasn’t a big part of my identity, but by happenstance, I just ended up here, and I’ve never been so involved in a Jewish community ever in my life,” says Allison, a member of the class of 2029.
Part of what makes the Center so special is its welcoming environment and ability to help students build community from the moment they arrive on campus. Hagit Lewis, vice president of the board of directors and a parent of students in the Classes of 2026 and 2029, recalls how quickly her son was embraced when he first visited.
“He came knowing nobody,” she says. “Right away they saw it, and they brought him together with other students. When we left, he was spending time with other students. You want your kids to be in a place where they will be exposed to other Jewish people in a warm environment. And it is beautiful.”
Through its new strategic plan, the Brody Jewish Center aims to build on those experiences, strengthening Jewish learning, leadership development, and community connections.
