Jennifer Gendel’s quarter century in education has included significant success as teacher, elementary principal, district administrator and college professor. She enjoys mentoring for the Matan early childhood and youth and education director Institute’s inclusion training program for Jewish professionals.

     Jennifer partners with synagogues, camps, schools and other organizations dedicated to including individuals with disabilities into their communities. Most recently, as a partner of the Ruderman Family Foundation and the United Synagogue for Conservative Judaism, supported inclusion in over 600 member synagogues and youth movement (USY) groups. She currently serves as the Coordinator of the Shifting the Paradigm Project at Or Shalom in Vernon Hills which is a project sponsored by Jewish United Federation of Metropolitan Chicago where she is helping to create a model for children and their families that will allow them to experience authentic and meaningful experiences along their Jewish Journeys.

      Jennifer earned her B.S. in Special Education from Boston University, her M.A. in Early Childhood Education from National-Louis University, and her Ed.D. in and Leadership and Supervision from Loyola University of Chicago. Her research and professional interests are focused on providing high-quality professional development for teachers and administrators who support all learners.