Assistant Director for Student Engagement & Programs
Matthew Gordan is the Assistant Director of Student Engagement at the Helen Diller Institute for Jewish Law and Israel Studies. Originally from Charlotte, NC, Matthew has lived in and contributed to the community of Oakland, CA since 2010. As a basketball official he has officiated kindergarten through adult leagues and as a high school teacher he has taught English, Creative Writing, and Ethnic Studies while overseeing the college advising department. Now with the Institute, Matthew is excited to help continue the upward trajectory of the Undergraduate Fellowship and...
Noam Tadelis (he/him) is the Helen Diller Institute’s Program Associate. In the summer of 2019 he worked with the Institute as a visiting student researcher and assistant creating structures for outreach with donors as well as student fellows and has now returned in a full time role. He graduated from the University of Chicago with a Bachelor’s degree in History and Jewish Studies, and is looking forward to utilizing his expertise in this position. Noam has experience with program development and education of professional and teambuilding skills through his work with Keshet...
Juan Zavala Ponce joined the Helen Diller in 2019 as the Institute Administrator, responsible for coordinating programs and financial activities.
Zavala, whose parents are coffee growers, is fluent in English and Spanish and earned a B.S. in agricultural engineering from National Engineering University in Managua, Nicaragua.
Before joining HDIJLIS, he was an administrative assistant at UC Davis and an administrative officer at UCOP (UC Office of the President) where he implemented and improved strategic...
