Meet the 2024-2025 Leadership Fellows

The student leadership fellowship is open to students of all backgrounds to exercise leadership in our community in accordance with the wisdom, cultural riches, and values embodied in the Jewish tradition. This fellowship integrates service to the Colby, Waterville, and statewide community with rigorous Jewish learning and mentorship.

Aya Abukwaik 
Tzedakah/Zakat Fellow 

Aya is a sophomore majoring in Computational Biology with a minor in Statistics. She is deeply engaged in her community and passionate about supporting others. On campus, Aya contributes to career development initiatives through her work at DavisConnects. In her free time, she enjoys walking around campus and cooking. Aya is especially dedicated to her role in the Tzedakah/Zakat fellowship, where she works to bring together Jewish and Muslim students, fostering mutual understanding and hope for the future of her communities. She also volunteers downtown to help in the Yad b’Yad program and loves helping and spending time with New Mainers

Aishah Awotubo-Qasim
Tzedakah/Zakat Fellow 

Aishah is a sophomore majoring in Government and minoring in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies on a pre-med track. She is actively involved in her community and dedicated to helping others. On campus, Aishah participates in Colby Cares About Kids, serves as an FLI Mentor, works with the Office of Religious Life, and holds a position on the board of the Colby Muslim Society. Aishah is particularly enthusiastic about her role in the Tzedakah/Zakat fellowship, where the opportunity to unite Jewish and Muslim students and learn from both perspectives inspires her hope for the future of her immediate communities.

Jewel Bird 
Yad b’Yad Fellow 

Jewel is a sophomore from Louisiana double majoring in Education and Global Studies. In addition to serving as a Yad b’Yad fellow Jewel is a community advisor on campus and involved with SOBLU, WOCA, Multifaith, and Colby African Society. In her free time Jewel loves to explore new areas, eat new food, and meet new people, and hike with her dog. She is excited to provide a safe space for new Mainers!

Mollie Block
Shabbaton Fellow 

Mollie is a sophomore from Silver Spring, Maryland. When she’s not working as the Shabbaton fellow, half of the Takeout and Torah board team for Hillel, or co-hosting her weekly radio show “Mid Week Trip,” you can probably find her in Colby’s Arboretum or somewhere pretty outside in the state of Maine. 

Owen Druehl
Yad b’Yad Fellow

Owen is a sophomore from Hastings-on-Hudson, New York and is studying Economics and Global Studies. In addition to serving as a Yad b’Yad Fellow, he is a Community Advisor and a member of the Colby Consulting Group. Owen loves to spend time outside running, cycling, skiing, and exploring the great state of Maine. He is super excited for the Yad b’Yad mentorship program this year and can’t wait to organize a bunch of awesome events!

Lucia Greene
Mikvah Fellow

Lucia is a sophomore from Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, and is majoring in Classical Civilization-English and Studio Art. Lucia is excited to help facilitate the introduction of the ancient ritual of the mikvah to Colby students. In her free time, Lucia enjoys reading, sketching, spending time with friends, and hiking. 
 

 

Becca Hoffman 
Hebrew School Fellow

Becca is a sophomore from Columbus, Ohio.  

Jacob Madley 
Tzedakah/Zakat Fellow

Jacob is a junior from Los Angeles, California, majoring in History with minors in French and Geology. Jacob is passionate about participating in Jewish life at Colby Hillel and in Waterville at Beth Israel Synagogue. In his free time, he loves cooking, playing the banjo, and exploring the great outdoors! Jacob is especially excited about his role in the Tzedakah/Zakat fellowship, where he works to build bonds of understanding and friendship between Jewish and Muslim students on campus, and support New Mainers in the Waterville area.

Erica O’Donnell 
Jewish Community Liaison 

Erica is a junior from Wayland, Mass. 

Andrew Postal 
Finance and Administration Fellow

Andrew is a junior from Andover, Mass, studying Economics with a concentration in Financial Markets. In addition to working as a Center fellow, he is vice president of the Colby Rugby Football Club and treasurer of Colby Hillel. In his free time, Andrew enjoys playing golf, biking, skiing, and surfing.  
 
 

Zaynab Tariq
Tzedakah/Zakat Fellow

Zaynab is a junior from Lahore, Pakistan majoring in Computer Science and Economics with concentrations in Artificial Intelligence and Financial Markets. She started working for the Center in her sophomore year where she fell in love with the community she was a part of and the impact they were making. What excites her about her role at the Center is the opportunity to strengthen bonds between the Muslim and Jewish communities in Maine. This aligns with her broader interest in supporting immigrant families as they establish themselves in Waterville.

Allie Tarkoff
Teen Fellow; Tzedakah/Zakat Fellow 

Allie is a junior from the Bay Area of California. Allie is a junior from the Bay Area of California. She is majoring in Global Studies. In addition to serving as a Teen fellow and one of the Tzedakah/Zakat fellows, she plays on the Club Women’s Lacrosse Team. In her free time, she likes to hike, surf, and find new restaurants in the area. She is excited to bring together Jewish teens from across Maine and continue partnering with other Jewish and Muslim students on issues of social justice. 

Isabella Vidal 
Yad b’Yad Fellow

Isabella is a junior from Detroit, Michigan, majoring in Anthropology and Spanish. She is also a Community Advisor on campus and a student research assistant for the Latin American Studies Department. She loves working with new Mainers and creating bonds of community! She enjoys spending moments with friends, listening to music, and learning more about God in her free time.