Our Staff

Rona is an accomplished non-profit executive guided by a vision of abundant opportunity for all New Yorkers. She began her career as a middle and high school history teacher, before pursuing a PhD in Jewish history and teaching on the college level. She pivoted to leadership roles in the non-profit world in 2003, serving as executive director of the Association for Jewish Studies, the learned society and professional association of Jewish Studies scholars. Rona has pursued her commitment to educational equity and economic mobility since joining JFEW in 2017, and has published on these topics in The Hechinger Report, EJewish Philanthropy and The New York Times. Rona graduated Phi Beta Kappa, with a BA in history, from the University of Michigan, and holds an MA in Women’s Studies and Phd in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies from Brandeis University. She has served on the boards of Sefaria, the National Humanities Alliance, and the Leffell School.  Rona is most inspired by the students she meets and their stories of transformation through education.

Stacey Winter joined JFEW in 2014 with a background in philanthropic giving, nonprofit management and economic development for women with financial need. Previously, she was Program Director for the Taproot Foundation and Senior Program Officer for the Liz Claiborne Foundation. Stacey holds a B.A. from Lehigh University and an M.P.A. from Columbia University and currently sits on the Board of Directors for LEAP, which provides vital creative arts programming to school communities. Stacey is passionate about making higher ed degree completion attainable for all and is grateful to partner with the outstanding JFEW-supported programs and institutions that help make graduation a reality for so many women.

Stacy Nelson joins JFEW with over 10 years of professional experience in the educational and nonprofit sectors. She previously held financial roles for Bank Street College of Education and the New York Public Library. Stacy received her undergraduate degree from Temple University and holds an M.B.A. from Iona College, with a concentration in Financial Management. Stacy is steered by the missions of educational and philanthropic institutions that support educational advancement, and is thrilled to use her background to further promote JFEW’s long-standing commitment to educational attainment and professional development for women.