Youth Staff

	Director of Youth Activities Matt Rissien grew up in Overland Park, KS going to the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy, a K-12 Jewish day school. He became involved in a number of extra-curricular activities in the Jewish community, eventually becoming president of Kansas City Council BBYO his senior year. He attended the University of Kansas, where he graduated with a major in religious studies with a minor in Judaic studies. Throughout college he was very involved in KU Hillel, Chabad on Campus, student senate and was the spirit chair for Student Union Activities, an organization which puts big programs on campus. He was also the Jewish heritage chair for the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity. His Junior year, he created his own student organization which raised money to put on a week of cultural Israel events called Israel Week, which is still around to this day. Upon graduation, he received the Campanille Award; an award given to one individual by the chancellor for outstanding student leadership and achievement. Before coming to Beth Shalom, Matt worked as a residential fellow at the American Hebrew Academy, a co-ed pluralistic college preparatory Jewish boarding high school in Greensboro, North Carolina. Matt is extremely excited to be heading back to the Midwest and to be part of the Beth Shalom family.
	Youth Advisor Melissa Shtulman grew up in Deerfield and attended Washington University in St. Louis where she received a degree in Middle and Secondary Education. She currently works in HR in Vernon Hills. Melissa is a USY advisor.

	Youth Advisor Rachel Siegal is originally from Glenview but now resides in the hustle and bustle of downtown Chicago. Rachel also grew up in CBS USY and is really excited to be back at home. She attended Arizona State University and earned a degree in Recreation Management and Tourism and is currently working as the Operations Manager for Ramah Day Camp. Rachel is really looking forward to a great year as the CBS USY advisor.
	Youth Advisor Alison Weiman grew up in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. She went to college in Binghamton, New York where she studied Spanish, English, International Studies and Business. She graduated from Binghamton University in 2007 Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa. And after all of that, she decided to do the logical thing and become a teacher! Alison has been an elementary school teacher since graduating from college in 2007. She got her Masters degree in elementary education in 2010 from National-Louis University. Alison has taught first through fifth grades in both Wheeling and in Schaumburg. She is fluent in Spanish and enjoys speaking Spanish to those around her. She was also a youth director in Skokie for Kehillat Shalom. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, reading and watching movies. Alison spent the past summer in Israel on a volunteer program in which she taught English at a Jewish and Arab day camp. She is looking forward to working with all of the amazing children and families at Congregation Beth Shalom this year as a youth advisor for Nitzanim, Chaverim and Kadima!