After graduating from Hampshire College in 1977 with a B.A. in modern Jewish history, the Book Center's Founder and President, Aaron Lansky, enrolled in a graduate program in East European Jewish studies at McGill University in Montreal. There he discovered that large numbers of Yiddish books were being destroyed – not by anti-Semites, but by Jews who could not read the language of their own parents and grandparents. Convinced that someone had to save those books, Lansky, ignoring the cautions of experts who considered the task impossible, left McGill and started what he then called the National Yiddish Book Exchange. Today the National Yiddish Book Center’s collection totals over a million volumes; and Lansky has gone on to receive a National Jewish Book Award, honorary doctorates from Amherst College and the State University of New York, and a 1989 "Genius Grant" from the MacArthur Foundation.  Read more...

Susan Bronson, Executive Director.  Susan joins the Yiddish Book Center from the Austen Riggs Center in Stockbridge, MA, where she served as director of development and was a member of the Senior Executive Leadership team.  Previous positions included oversight of planning and development at Shakespeare and Company, the Berkshire Museum, the Berkshire Opera Company, and elsewhere. She holds a Ph.D. in Russian history and Eastern European history from the University of Michigan and, prior to moving to Western Massachusetts, served for eight years as a program officer at the Social Science Research Council in New York.

Hector Crespo, Building and Grounds Supervisor.  Hector’s background includes work as an airport security officer, a hospital mechanic, and a residential maintenance supervisor. At the Book Center he handles everything from carpentry to mechanical systems to book collection trips.

Owalla ("Wally") Facteau, Staff Accountant. Before completing her B.S. in business management & accounting, Wally led prior lives as a medical practitioner, real estate agent, and manager of a plastics company. In addition to accounting, Wally also handles human resources, compliance with government agencies, and coordination of international book shipments.

Adrienne Figus, Member Services Coordinator and Technology Support Specialist. A graduate of the Maryland College of Art with a concentration in printmaking and a special interest in book arts, Adrienne handles inquiries from members, coordinates recordkeeping and assists with the Book Center’s website.

Arielle Jackson, Manager of Marketing and Visitor Services.  A graduate of the University of Massachusetts where she studied International Business, Arielle implements events, handles publicity, and coordinates Visitors Center activities, including group tours.

Josh Lambert, Academic Director.  Lambert served most recently as the Dorot Assistant Professor Faculty Fellow in the Skirball Department of Hebrew and Judaic Studies at New York University. He holds a BA from Harvard and a PhD from the University of Michigan. He is the author of American Jewish Fiction: A JPS Guide and a contributing editor of Tablet, an online Jewish magazine.

Amy Leos-Urbel, Director of Educational Programs. Amy has a broad-based teaching background that ranges from rural and inner-city youth programs, to English language training for immigrants and international students.  She holds a B.A. in Comparative Literature, a Masters in Elementary Education, as well as several other advanced certificates.

Catherine Madsen, Bibliographer.  In addition to managing the Yiddish Book department, Catherine is a contributing editor to Pakn Treger, and project coordinator for new English publishing ventures. She has an MFA in Writing and Literature from Goddard College and is the author of three books and many articles.

Lisa Newman, Director of Communications and Visitor Services. Prior to joining the Yiddish Book Center, Lisa managed public relations and publishing projects for a variety of non-profit and corporate clients. After moving to western Massachusetts to work for the award-winning New England Monthly, she went on to work with magazine and book publishers including Horticulture, Orion, Country Journal, Storey, and Disney Publishing. Lisa has been an instructor at the Columbia Publishing Course and a panelist at industry events. She is a graduate of New York University.

Paul Page, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer. In this vital role, Paul is a member of the executive committee with primary responsibility for oversight and management of fiscal operations and planning. Prior to coming to the Book Center, Paul was Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Katie Palmer Finn, Office Administrator. Katie provides support to the Center’s President, Executive Director, and Board of Directors. She has years of administrative experience including work at Charter Communications and Hewlett Packard. She holds a degree in Russian and Linguistics and has a passion for cultural studies.

Randi Silnutzer, Director of Operations.  Randi oversees membership and online communications systems, as well as overall facilities operations. Her background in arts administration and education includes a B.A. from Hampshire College with a concentration in cultural studies and a M.Ed. from the University of Massachusetts.

Margie Stark, Membership Assistant.  Since 1994, Margie has assisted with the many details involved in sending our members their receipts, letters and premiums.

Maxine J. Stein, Director of Development.  Maxine oversees all aspects donor relations, and has worked in executive positions with non-profit organizations such as the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition and Stop It Now!, a national organization for child sexual abuse prevention. She holds a B.A. from Bennington College and an MSW from Washington University.

Susan Sussman, Development Associate. Susan joined the Center after working in the University of Massachusetts Advancement office, where she was involved in the University’s first-ever comprehensive fundraising campaign. Prior to that, she was Associate Director of the Florida Israel Institute, working to enhance educational, business, and cultural exchanges between Florida and Israel.

Christa Whitney, Director of Wexler Oral History Project. A former intern and graduate fellow at the Yiddish Book Center, Christa directs the Wexler Oral History Project.  A graduate of Smith College with a degree in Comparative Literature and Dance, she researches the intersection between Spanish and Yiddish-speakers in Latin America.

Lesley Yalen, Education Program Assistant. Lesley assists in the development of the Book Center's education programs. She received her B.A. from Brown University and her MFA from the University of Massachusetts. Before coming to the Book Center, she was a freelance writer and editor, and director of a creative writing institute for teens. Lesley's poems and stories have been published in a variety of literary journals.