Rachel Hodes, a second year student specializing in management in the NYU Wagner/Skirball MPA-MA in Hebrew and Judaic Studies program, is from Highland Park, NJ and a graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in Political Science and Environmental Policy. She is the Ernest Michel FEREP Fellow at UJA-Federation of New York, where she is currently a graduate intern. Rachel is interested in Social Justice and creating inclusive, organic Jewish communities. Having begun that work on the Rutgers campus, she now continues community-building as one of the founding members of the Murray Hill Moishe House. Rachel chose the MPA-MA program for its diverse faculty and because it seemed the optimal place to learn, study, and grow as a Jewish professional. Her first year in the program helped Rachel shape and grow her professional aspirations of driving the Jewish community to a more vibrant and sustainable place.