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Spiritual Life Welcomes a New Director of Hillel & Jewish Life at Queens University
October 2024
By Adrian Bird, University Chaplain
The Spiritual Life Team is delighted to welcome the new director of Hillel & Jewish life, Andy Harkavy, to Queens University. Andy will work within the Office of the Chaplain, building on the strong foundations of Jewish life at Queens to support and grow Jewish life on campus. Andy’s first day on campus was August 12, and we look forward to utilizing Andy’s depth of gifts, knowledge, and experiences as we continue to build a diverse and engaging interfaith community at Queens.
Andy Harkavy most recently served as the director of congregational engagement and communications for Temple Beth El in Charlotte, NC where he played a creative and key role in reimagining and deepening individual, small group, and cohort engagement. He partnered with congregants and staff to challenge current assumptions, break out of silos, synergize, and create a relational culture. He also oversaw and managed the strategy and vision for the congregation’s communications. Andy received a double Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Spanish at the University of Georgia and a Master of Arts in Jewish Communal Service from the Baltimore Hebrew Institute at Towson University.
Among his many roles in engagement over the years, Andy has excelled in dynamic teen and young adult education and engagement, serving as the Jewish campus service corps fellow at Ohio State Hillel, the director of youth engagement at Temple Beth El in Charlotte, director of BEIT-RJ (post B’nei Mitzvah education and engagement program for the Baltimore Reform Jewish community), and the regional director of youth engagement for NFTY Ohio Valley and Cincinnati youth engagement advisor.
Andy also has a passion and love for camp and has served on staff/faculty at numerous URJ (Union for Reform Judaism) Summer Camps: 6 Points Sports Academy, Camp Coleman, Goldman Union Camp Institute (GUCI), Henry S. Jacobs Camp, and Kutz Camp.
Andy was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, and is an avid sports fan, always supporting any University of Georgia team as well as all his Atlanta sports teams. Andy resides in Charlotte with his wife, Megan, and their two children, Eli Micah and Abby Rose.
