Meet the Leadership + Staff
We look forward to getting to know you!
Leadership
Lauren Fishman, Director
Just like the campers, Lauren lives 10 months for 2. Summer 2024 marks her inaugural summer as Camp Tevya Director. She has held leadership roles at Tevya for 10 years, the last five as Assistant Director, where she planned and created the summer experience for campers, teens, and staff with a focus on Bunk Life.
Lauren is a Tevya parent married to a Tevya alum; their three children are all Tevya campers (although she attended Camp Pembroke as a camper! ) She maintains that camp is the best gift they ever could have given their kids. Prior to joining Tevya’s year-round team, she served as a Director at SCORE! Education Center and taught in elementary schools in Chelsea and Newton. Lauren holds an MA in Elementary Education from Lesley University and BA in Sociology from Union College.
Elissa Edwards, Assistant Director
Elissa joins Camp Tevya after a total of 25 staff and camper summers in Jewish camping at JCC Camp Grossman—where she served on the Leadership Team—and Camp Young Judaea (CYJ). When not at camp, she served as Coordinator of Inclusion and Support Services at JCC Greater Boston, after having taught Special Education in Massachusetts and Virgina. Elissa holds a B.A. in psychology and a M.A.T. in Special Education (K-12) from James Madison University.
Elissa says: “I can’t wait to meet the Tevya family! I love Jewish camping because camp is the perfect place for campers and staff to hone their sense of identity, community, and belonging. All campers who attend Camp Tevya should leave having had a safe and fun experience, with a sense of pride and simcha (joyfulness) that extends to every space they are in.”
Michelle Wilen, Registrar
Michelle joined the Tevya team as our summer Office Manager in 2019 and is excited to stay on throughout the year as Registrar, focusing on camper enrollment. To this role, Michelle brings her warmth, experience as a Tevya parent, continuity as summer Office Manager, and a passion for community planning. In her career before children, she was an environmental planner. Tevya is a special place for Michelle and her family, and she is glad to be a part of the team that works to bring joy to so many campers.
Mindee Greenberg, LCSW Director, Dor L'Dor Israel Programs
Mindee is an experienced, thoughtful Jewish educator who leads the Dor L’Dor Israel travel experience for our oldest campers. She previously served as Camp Tevya Director for 9 summers. Mindee says, “A personal connection to Israel is a pillar of a strong Jewish identity—a connection that resonates so achingly right now. I look forward to getting to know and reflect with every teen in the program as we share this journey together.”
Summer Staff
The team of Tevya staff takes its responsibility to nurture and care for our campers very seriously. Each team member works hard to serve as a role model and to make a positive impact each day.
Tevya administrative and supervisory personnel are camping professionals and educators with many years of experience working with children. Many Tevya counselors were Tevya campers themselves, and many of those came through our Dor L’Dor Israel travel capstone program and our teen leadership training. Some of our counselors come from abroad, including a delegation from Israel, greatly enhancing the camp experience.
We select our staff for their experience, maturity, creativity, and sense of responsibility. Our summer staff attends a week-long Staff Orientation, in addition to individual specialty training to improve teaching skills. Ongoing training continues throughout the summer with seminars and mentoring.
2026 Leadership Team
We will continue to update this section leading up to Summer 2026.
We will update this section to introduce the 2025 team in Spring 2025.
Assistant Director, Programming: Debbie Dylan
Mental, Emotional, and Social Health (MESH) Coordinator: Rachael Kaplan
Office Manager: Michelle Wilen
Head Chef: Chef Chester Beal
Head of Maintenance: Steve Simard
Olim Head Counselor (3rd-6th Grade Boys): Callum Whalley
Olot Head Counselor (3rd-6th Grade Girls): Adina Kurzman
Tsofim Head Counselor (7th-8th Grade Boys): Andrew Bluestein
Tsofot Head Counselor (7th-8th Grade Girls): Emily Gunzburg
Bogrim Head Counselor (9th-10th Grade Boys): Drew Steinberg
Bogrot Head Counselor (9th-10th Grade Girls): Rachel Scherzer
Head of Teen Leadership + Development: Erika Lilienfeld
Head of Arts and Crafts: Melissa Krochmal
Head of Israel Delegation (Rosh Mishlachat): Galia Kovesh
Head of Land Sports: Jon Fass
Head of Media: Erick Carriola
Head of Outdoor Adventure: Mario Pecoraro
Head of Performing Arts: Kache’ Mumford
Head of Tennis: Sam Bromiley
Head of Waterfront: Arielle Welch
Lead Program Coordinator: Marley Sherman
Health Center Doctor: Dr. Lee Marks
Health Center Coordinator/Nurse Practitioner: Rachel Sarasohn
Health Center Nurses: Debbie Shields, Robin Seidman, Bridget Nelligan, Nyani Gray
Health Center Administrator: Lindsey Dattis
Office Assistants: Brett Berkman, Sarah Popper, + Erica McKenna
Year-round Administration + Colleagues
The Leadership Team is supported by the staff of The Cohen Camps, the family of three Jewish overnight camps which also includes Camp Tel Noar and Camp Pembroke. The three camps share a year-round office and collaborate on a shared vision, pooling ideas and refining best practices to all of our campers’ great benefit.
Work Here
Would you like to take part in creating incredible summer experiences for staff and campers alike?
