Ben Davis plans to strengthen student involvement at IU Hillel after becoming its executive director on Aug. 15. His commitments include overseeing its operations, developing the organization’s administrative strategies, sustaining financial viability and supporting Jewish life on campus.
Davis succeeded Jeff Linkon, who stepped down in June 2026 after serving as executive director since September 2024.
Davis was formerly the executive director of the Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley, a nonprofit organization that fosters Jewish culture through cultural and religious get-togethers, social services and educational programs. The federation spans communities from southwestern Michigan to South Bend, Indiana.
Additionally, he brings more than 30 years of experience working as a Jewish community leader, during which he headed several Jewish community centers and recreational summer camps in the Midwest.
Davis said he identifies as Ashkenazi Jewish, and he was deeply involved with Jewish culture growing up as first-generation American.
IU is the first university Davis has worked with, and he said he was “particularly attracted” to the opportunity because his daughter is a junior at IU and his wife is a longtime alumna of IU Hillel.
“I was looking for a change to work with more young adults, and it seemed like a perfect match,” he said.
While working at recreational summer camps, Davis said one of the aspects he loved most was the ability to work with college-aged staff and see them develop into professionals.
“They’re the ones that are going to shape the world,” he said. “All the students here at IU, regardless of their religion, are the future leaders.”
As executive director, Davis said one of his responsibilities is ensuring the entire staff remains committed to Hillel’s mission of welcoming every Jewish person on campus, regardless of how they identify.
“We are here to support and make sure that both their mental health, their physical health, or whatever they need — that we are here for them to feel like a safe place for the Jewish students,” Davis said.
Davis said he is also in charge of the organization’s financial operations and fundraising, which he directs with the goals set by the student executive board in mind.
IU Hillel’s student executive board is composed of 6 students, who help coordinate initiatives for the organization. Davis said the students brainstorm events, while he works with donors to fund their ideas.
Daniella Mandel, a senior who has been involved with IU Hillel since freshman year, serves as IU Hillel co-president alongside senior Mack Lapp.
Mandel said Judaism has been a large part of her life for as long as she can remember, and she was drawn to IU Hillel primarily because she connected with members of the organization.
“It has constantly been a community I could always turn to in times of sadness and happiness,” she said. “I have loved watching it grow into more people and different types of people.”
One of the student executive board’s main goals is increasing their outreach to more people and other cultural organizations on campus, Mandel said. She said she is also in the process of planning events, such the annual Hanukkah celebration.
Davis said Hillel plans to reach out to multiple groups on campus, such as the LGBTQ+ Culture Center.
“There is estimated about 4,500 Jewish students at IU, and we currently only see, you know, 400 to 500 of them come through our doors,” he said. “We want to just make sure everyone knows that if you identify as Jewish, we're here for you.”
Although Mandel said she believes it is too early to gauge Davis’ impact on Hillel, she said the behind-the-scenes operations and financial management of the organization have become more organized during his time as director.
One characteristic Mandel pointed out is how outgoing Davis is. She noted that he mentions “his door is always open” to students and staff members.
For Davis, building a strong relationship with the university and its organizations is of high importance.
“We want to make IU one of the best schools in the world,” he said. “We already think it is, but we want to make sure we always are.”
Natalie Chan covers issues of diversity for the Indiana Daily Student. Her work is supported by a donation to IDS Black Voices, a fund fostering coverage of and perspectives from Black and other historically underrepresented communities.
