Tilly Shemer (she/her) is the Senior Vice President of Wellspring at the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America. In this role she leads our work encouraging youth and young adults to grapple with key questions of Jewish identity, the challenges facing North American Jewish communities, and the North American Jewish relationship to Israel.

Previously, she served as the Executive Director of University of Michigan Hillel since 2012, where she received the Richard M. Joel Exemplar of Excellence Award, Hillel’s highest honor. Tilly has worked with Hillels in Toronto and Michigan for two decades in various positions, including Director of Israel Affairs and Associate Director. She is passionate about youth engagement, community-building, pluralism, women’s advancement, and reproductive access.

Tilly holds a Master’s degree in International Affairs (Carleton University) and a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and Political Science (York University). She is an alum of the Hartman Fellowship for Hillel Professionals (Cohort II) and the Wexner Field Fellowship, and a member of the Board of Directors of Encounter. She loves hiking, travel, art, puffins, and talking about food. She lives in Ann Arbor, MI with her wife, their daughter, and their 2 cats: Fanny (Brice) and (Elder) Kevin (Price).