Julie Dean, Executive Director and Founder
With a background in education, facilitation, and Jewish spiritual leadership, Julie brings decades of experience supporting individuals and communities as they grow through meaningful learning and practice. She is passionate about returning the language, wisdom, and practice of Mussar—inner work for a better world—to the heart of Jewish life. Julie’s dedication is fueled by her firsthand experience witnessing how Mussar transforms not only how we live our values, but also how we deepen our connections with ourselves, with others, and with Judaism.
Isaac Jennings, Managing Director
A two-time transplant from Washington state, Isaac brings nearly a decade of nonprofit operations and logistics management to our team. He believes strongly in seder as chesed, using his skills in organization and order-making to communicate and express love for his community. “The necessity of Jewish joy and inspiration are deeply-felt, and I am honored to be a part of Living Mussar as we do the work to meet that need in our community.”
Drea Lear, Steward of Generosity and Growth
With more than 15 years of experience in program development, stewardship, and relationship management, Drea excels at building and nurturing meaningful connections with donors, stakeholders, and community partners. Her career has focused on creating strategies that inspire engagement, secure support, and foster long-term commitment to organizational goals. Drea is passionate about developing sustainable fundraising systems and personalized stewardship practices that ensure donors feel valued and invested in the mission.
Jenni Schwartz, Podcast Manager
Jenni recently earned her Master’s in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from Arizona State University and has a background in music. These skills help to coordinate and manage the Living Mussar Podcast. Jenni has been a practitioner of Mussar for 5 years. Jenni is excited to be on the Living Mussar team and is passionate about bringing Mussar to the Jewish community as it has been an integral and meaningful part of her life.
Meet the Wisdom Council
With great joy and zerizut (enthusiasm), the members of the Living Mussar Wisdom Council—our Board of Directors—gathered for their inaugural meeting, marking the beginning of an inspiring new chapter in our community’s growth.
Rooted in a shared passion for Mussar, they approach leadership as a Living Mussar practice—an opportunity to build an organization with middot at its heart, bringing intention, reflection, and ethical awareness to all they do, both as individuals and as a collective.
The Wisdom Council stewards the vision and values of Living Mussar by striving to embody ethical leadership; cultivate a culture of collaboration, kavod (respect), and self-awareness; and guide the organization with humility, thoughtfulness, seder (order), and shared responsibility.
Please reach out to any of the Wisdom Council members to learn more about Living Mussar and how you can get involved or email us at info@livingmussar.org.
From left to right: Barbara Fermon, Julie Dean, Tony Gleekel, Luke Weisberg, Barry Epstein, Jen Bucklew, Ruth Hornstein, Genevieve Parker.