2008 Woodie Awards
Yeshiva Acquires Sarah Lawrence PR Director
Eitan Kastner
Issue date: 8/31/05 Section: News
Yeshiva University has recently named Georgia B. Pollak as the new Executive Director of University Communications and a member of the President's cabinet, stepping into the spot vacated by Peter Ferrara. Although she has just arrived in YU, Pollak, according to President Richard N. Joel, has already shown an understanding of the aims of the institution and the goals of her department.
Pollak comes to YU with experience in communications in small liberal arts colleges. Prior to her hiring, she was employed for six years as spokesperson and Communications Director at Sarah Lawrence College, one of the former seven sister schools. Her fields of expertise include media relations, print publications, advertising, event management and web development.
Although there are significant differences between Yeshiva and Sarah Lawrence in terms of vision, she sees similarities as well that encourage her belief in a smooth transition. The student bodies in both undergraduate programs are of roughly equal size and made up of students that enroll in the school for what Pollak calls a "passion for what the school stands for." Pollak believes that the processes of attracting and recruiting students has significant similarities for all universities, so she should have no problems readjusting to her new surroundings.
What enticed Pollak to join YU was the sense of its mission of being the centerpiece for American Modern Orthodoxy and the warmth among the administration and students.
Also, Pollak, who is a convert to Judaism, said that she "cares very much how the outside world views Judaism" which is one of the things that inspired her to work for a Jewish institution.
As the new head of the communications department, Pollak plans on making the goals of the university the goals of her department. That means increasing the size of the undergraduate student body, creating a better sense of community between the undergraduate programs and selling the academic excellence of both the undergraduate and graduate programs to their proper audiences.
Pollak comes to YU with experience in communications in small liberal arts colleges. Prior to her hiring, she was employed for six years as spokesperson and Communications Director at Sarah Lawrence College, one of the former seven sister schools. Her fields of expertise include media relations, print publications, advertising, event management and web development.
Although there are significant differences between Yeshiva and Sarah Lawrence in terms of vision, she sees similarities as well that encourage her belief in a smooth transition. The student bodies in both undergraduate programs are of roughly equal size and made up of students that enroll in the school for what Pollak calls a "passion for what the school stands for." Pollak believes that the processes of attracting and recruiting students has significant similarities for all universities, so she should have no problems readjusting to her new surroundings.
What enticed Pollak to join YU was the sense of its mission of being the centerpiece for American Modern Orthodoxy and the warmth among the administration and students.
Also, Pollak, who is a convert to Judaism, said that she "cares very much how the outside world views Judaism" which is one of the things that inspired her to work for a Jewish institution.
As the new head of the communications department, Pollak plans on making the goals of the university the goals of her department. That means increasing the size of the undergraduate student body, creating a better sense of community between the undergraduate programs and selling the academic excellence of both the undergraduate and graduate programs to their proper audiences.