Everyone, Meet Wendy Aronson
Wendy Aronson, our new YAD Director of Strategic Expansion & Engagement, began her life’s journey at the end of the Oregon Trail. Now she’s embarking on a slightly less arduous but no less thrilling adventure—no covered wagon required.
Though you won’t find it on her rĂ©sumĂ©, Wendy’s first job was her sister’s paper route, which she took over when said sis tired of it after a week. It was all uphill (on her bike) from there, with stints as a Young Judaea Camp counselor in California, New York, and Wisconsin, followed by her first full-time job for CU-Boulder Hillel.
Wendy went on the work for the Colorado Agency for Jewish Education, the Boulder JCC, and the Foundation for Jewish Camp, to name a few. Most recently, she was the executive director of Judaism Your Way, which she led through a period of transformation and growth.
With a Master’s in Jewish communal service from the Hornstein Program at Brandeis University and a Master’s in Jewish education from Hebrew College, Wendy brings a wealth of experience—and an obvious dedication to the Jewish community—to the YAD team. This reporter is delighted to report that Wendy also brings a secret talent to Jco: namely, a love for community theater. She’s performed in two Inspire Creative productions: Annie, at the Denver JCC, and in Guys and Dolls, at the Newman Center at Denver University. Inquiring minds will be forgiven for speculating wildly on her roles*: Annie herself? She has the gorgeous curls for it. Surely not Sergeant Sarah Brown. Maybe Miss Adelaide?
We might never know, but one thing we can be sure of: luck was a lady on our side when we found Wendy.
When she’s not sequestered in her home office (our resident RoomRater@ratemyzoomroom gives her a solid 8), Wendy and her partner Aaron spend their time enjoying their two rambunctious kids, Ravi and Beau. Â
*In actual fact, Wendy was a Hot Box Dancer in Guys and Dolls and in Annie, she was in the chorus, which meant she played a Rockette, a maid in Daddy Warbuck’s mansion, and Frances Perkins, FDR’s secretary of labor. Not simultaneously—that would be quite an act.