Jewish Life at Duke Professional Staff

Jewish Life at Duke Professional Staff
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Event Calendar
Did you know many Jewish Life at Duke events are open to the public? Alumni, parents, friends, and community members are invited to join us.
Jewish Life at Duke Professional Staff
Meet the professionals that are here to help our students find meaning, connection, and joy!
Joyce Gordon
Director
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 919-681-2911
Joyce Gordon (she/her/hers) joined us as Director for Jewish Life in July of 2018.
As director, Joyce oversees all aspects of the Freeman Center and JLD’s work across campus. She sets the strategy for Jewish Life at Duke, cultivates alumni and parent partnerships through the advisory board, and manages our organizational operations. Joyce also serves on university searches and committees.
In every aspect of her role, Joyce’s primary focus is Duke's bright, curious, and kind students. She loves connecting with students at this formative time in their lives and serving a resource for them as they explore Jewish life and community.
Previously, Joyce served for eight years as the Executive Director of Judea Reform Congregation, a 600+ family Reform synagogue in Durham, and also held roles at Meals on Wheels Durham, Spoonflower, and Duke University Medical Center and Alumni Affairs. Joyce has a breadth of experience in everything from Jewish program development, fundraising, and financial management to mishloach manot stuffing, envelope stuffing, and matzoh and mushroom stuffing.
Joyce received her Master’s in Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and her Bachelor of Arts in English from Rice University. She lives in Durham with her husband and her two children, and enjoys reading, quilting, and board games with family and friends.
Students can schedule to meet with Joyce .
Rabbi Elana Friedman
Campus Rabbi and Jewish Chaplain
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 919-684-3138
Rabb i Elana Friedman (she/her/hers) is the Campus Rabbi and Jewish Chaplain for Jewish Life at Duke. Since s he came to Duke in 2015, Rabbi Elana has found deep meaning in working with Duke’s students: “I love being part of students' journeys, an d walking that walk with them; both asking and contemplating the big questions in life.”
At Duke University, Rabbi Elana, as she's known on campus, serves as chief Jewish educator and spiritual leader of the campus Jewish community. In her role as Campus Rabbi, she provides counseling for students, offers opportunities for Jewish learning, and serves as liaison for Religious Life, which includes convening the Interfaith Round Table of fellow Duke chaplains. She facilitates the observance of Jewish holidays, supervises the kashrut of the Freeman Center Cafe's kosher kitchen, and holds duties related to educating the greater campus community about Judaism, Jewish observances, and challenges facing the Jewish community, including antisemitism. Rabbi Elana was recognized as the staff recipient of the 2023 Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award , awarded by the Duke University Provost. This annual award of Duke University recognizes members of the Duke community who have demonstrated generosity of character, placing service to others before self-interest.
In 2024, Hillel International, the largest Jewish campus organization in the world, honored Rabbi Elana Friedman with Richard M. Joel Exemplar of Excellence Award, which honors professionals in various stages of their careers whose remarkable passion and outstanding devotion to the Jewish campus community sets a standard for all to emulate.
Fun Fact: Rabbi Elana also hosts a weekly Duke Radio Show, Music & Spirituality , that airs during the school year on alternating Mondays from 4-5pm ET on WXDU 88.7FM , sharing her love of mus