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Home > Who We Are > Leadership & Staff

Leadership & Staff

Leadership at the LJCC

The LJCC is a lay-led, horizontally-constituted community. Our activities are powered by volunteer efforts aided by a handful of staff members. 
 
The LJCC has a volunteer Board of Directors. The board, which meets regularly, and various committees oversee programming and the other matters relevant to daily congregational operations as well as the business of the B'nai Israel Cemetery.
 
For general questions or to get involved, contact Lara Giordano or call the LJCC front office at (785) 841-7636.

Officers of the Board:

Rita York Hennecke, President
Shelley Skie, Treasurer
Suzanne Sherr, Corresponding Secretary
Heather Frost, Recording Secretary
Robin Rosenberg, Past President


Members at large:

Rachel Benefiel
Sam Brody
Siobhán Kirchstein
Cameron Leader-Picone
Anne Schulman
Jordan Yochim
 

Staff

 
 
 
Lara Giordano, PhD
Director of Programming, Engagement, & Development
 
Lara came to the LJCC in January 2023 following a brief but happy enough career as an academic philosopher.  Please reach out to Lara with any questions that you have about the LJCC or the pleasures of building Jewish community in NE Kansas - or to talk about how Judaism may (or may not) secretly inform the critical philosophies of secular Jewish thinkers such as Marx, Freud, Benjamin, Adorno.
Nixx Sandidge (they/them)
Office Administrator
 
Nixx moved to Lawrence from Middle Tennessee and is now a proud NoLaw Sandrat and DoCo Master Gardener.
 
Generally, Nixx staffs the office between 8:30am and 12:00pm. Appointments by request during this time.
Rachel Downs-Doubrava
Religious School Director
 
Learn more about the LJCC Religious School and its director.
Sat, October 18 2025 26 Tishrei 5786