After nearly four decades, Barton Lee, the man in charge at ASU’s Hillel organization, has decided to step aside.
Lee has been the executive director of Hillel, a group for Jewish students at ASU, for 39 years. About a year ago, he began thinking about leaving that role, he said.
“It is very unusual for someone in his position to be in that type of position for so long,” said Hillel President Ken Smith. “He’s been a phenomenal executive director.”
Lee said he did a lot of soul searching and spoke with his friends and colleagues before choosing to step aside.
In leaving his position, he hopes to work more one-on-one with students in teaching scenarios, which was why he originally got involved with Hillel. He hasn’t been able to do as much of that as executive director because he had to work on the administrative side of the organization, he said.
Once a replacement is found, Lee will assume the position of Senior Jewish Educator, a newly formed position that will work closely with the executive director, as well as with Jewish students.
“I’ve loved my work here at ASU and I look forward to continuing it in a more focused capacity in something I really believe in,” Lee said.
Lee will help form the transition committee in charge of selecting a replacement, but he will not take part in choosing his replacement, he said.
The process to find a replacement will likely take months, and during that time Lee will remain executive director.
The transition committee will draft a job description for the new executive director and will also plan a vision for Hillel for the next five to 10 years.
The committee will take input from students and faculty about what a new executive director should do and what qualities he or she will need, Lee said.
“New ideas and new energy might be really helpful for Hillel as it moves into the 21st century,” he said.
Hillel participates in and arranges a wide array of events for Jewish students. It has programs educating students about Jewish history and culture, conversations about religion and services and special events on Jewish holidays.
Smith said the organization serves 300 to 500 Jewish students across ASU and it advocates for the interests of those students.
“[Lee] is leaving a legacy of care and compassion that will remain at Hillel,” said Jim Rund, senior vice president of Education Outreach and Student Services.
Reach the reporter at connor.radnovich@asu.edu
