Laura Herman

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT LAURA HERMAN

The Jewish nonprofit sector thrives because of the passion of professionals in this space. I’m a senior leader who works to bolster the efforts of other Jewish nonprofit professionals through innovative programs and initiatives that enable growth and development. In today’s fast-changing world, it’s essential that Jewish nonprofits find new ways of being - professional development is an integral part of this transformative journey. For me, Jewish values are a means to promoting dialogue & diversity, while also providing an antidote to the recent polarization in our communities. Over the course of my career, I have established a reputation as an impact-driven professional and genuine strategic thinker with a talent for building relationships and working collaboratively. I’ve learned that great things happen when organizations leverage a plurality of voices and I love putting great minds together to solve problems. My best work happens in organizations that are strongly mission-driven but also value fun and playfulness to drive the work forward. As Director of Program and Evaluation at JPro, I set the program strategy and direct the implementation of professional development opportunities for Jewish community professionals across the US and Canada. It’s been a true privilege to have played a part in the continuing growth of JPro, with a 10X uptick in reach between 2018 and 2022. During my tenure, I’ve been recognized for my ability to envision and execute at the highest levels of excellence.SELECTED CAREER ACHIEVEMENTS: Rose through ranks to Director at JPro in recognition of efforts to build on the existing success of the organization while innovating new strategies and approaches to deepen impact. Developed new early career professional pilot initiative for JPro; led comprehensive design process that attracted funding and steered successful first phase pilot. Authored EdD dissertation, which explored boundaries and connections between Jewish and professional identities of a group of Jewish educators. I’m always open to starting conversations with others about the world of program development in the Jewish non-profit sector. Networking opportunities are welcomed.CORE SKILLS: Program Development Leadership Jewish Education Participant-Centered Design Program Evaluation Leadership Development Strategy Setting Program Implementation Grant Proposals Collaborative Relationship Building Qualitative Research