Naomi Kohl began her role as Director of Student Life on the Beren Campus this past summer. A Stern, Wurzweiler and Azrieli alumna, Naomi is best known for her time spent at the University of Maryland working in the Hillel as part of the JLIC couple with her husband, Rabbi Eli Kohl (‘03YC, ‘08R). Before that, she worked for NJ NCSY in an administrative capacity and staffed their summer programs. Naomi is thrilled to be back in New York to continue her passion of working with college students and developing programming for them.  

1. What is your favorite aspect of your job at YU?

I love working with college students. They are at such a unique time in their lives where they are learning and growing, and making decisions that are shaping their future. It is a privilege to help facilitate their growth and help them reach their goals. I loved my time and experience at YU and it’s always nice to come back to a place that feels like home. 2. What profession did you think you would one day hold when you were a child? I love thinking creatively. When I was younger, I thought about going into marketing for Macy’s, because it was a big company and I thought it would be cool to be a part of it. 3. What are some of your proudest accomplishments in your current role? I have only been here a month and due to my amazing colleagues I had the privilege to experience a fantastic orientation, ran an amazing trip to New Orleans and have the chance to meet and watch incredible students do wonderful things everyday. We are now in full swing working on Torah Tours, which is exciting for me on two levels: 1. I get to help facilitate an experience for others that was so empowering for me as a student,  and 2. I get to reconnect with many YU alumni who are living and working in Jewish communities across the country. 4. What is it like to be back? It's so surreal to walk through the halls of Stern and to see teachers and classrooms that I have not thought about over the last ten years and to have so many powerful memories come alive of the wonderful experiences I had when I was here. I wish my friends were back here with me! 5. What have you learned in your previous roles that you’re excited to bring to your job at YU? Having spent seven years on a college campus, I have a good understanding of campus life. I hope to bring that knowledge, coupled with my desire to learn and grow from others and new experiences to help students at YU have the best college experience possible.