Meet the HBI Student Staff
HBI has several employment opportunities for students. Some work as research assistants for both our resident and affiliated scholars, while others work in the Kniznick Art Gallery during HBI exhibitions, in our office, and on our events.
Bintou Baysmore (she/her) is a senior at Brandeis University pursuing a double major in Studio Art and Computer Science. She is an active leader of Platinum Step Team and Brandeis African Students Organization. Baysmore worked as an HBI Student Docent in the Kniznick Gallery last year and was very inspired by the Deeply Rooted: Faith in Reproductive Justice exhibition presented by the Gallery. When the exhibition closed, she continued as HBI special event staff. After Brandeis, Bintou hopes to have her artwork displayed at museums.
Talia Berg (she/her) is a junior at Brandeis University from Teaneck NJ, majoring in Politics and minoring in Legal Studies and English. She is the current president of Too Cheap for Instruments, one of the (many) a cappella groups at Brandeis. She is a research assistant at HBI, working with scholar-in-residence Dr. Nehami HaCohen with her research on misidentification of sexual abuse among ultra-Orthodox Jewish women. Berg is passionate about advocacy and looking forward to using her experience in trauma counseling and advocacy to help further Dr. HaCohen's research and hopefully contribute to proper sexual education in ultra-Orthodox spaces.
Gabi Chiquiar-Rabinovich (she/her) is from Brookline MA, and is currently a sophomore at Brandeis University where she studies English Literature and Near Eastern Judaic Studies. At school she serves on the club boards of the Brandeis Organization of Sephardic Students, the Brandeis Orthodox Organization, and Shira Chadasha, the partnership minyan at Brandeis. Chiquiar-Rabinovich was a HBI Gilda Slifka intern this past summer where she worked with Dr. Rivka Neriya-Ben Shahar on her project “Strictly Observant: Amish and Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Women Negotiating Media” and completed her own research project “Barren Mothers in Biblical Narratives: A Look at Infertility in Tanach Through a Disability Studies Lens.” This semester she is working with Dr. Edith Pick on her project “Intersection Between Jewish identity and DEI as a Field of Practice and as a Discourse.” As someone who comes from a multicultural Jewish background, Chiquiar-Rabinovich is very interested in DEI discourse and information on how it is implemented within a Jewish context. She is also working on the HBI special event staff.
Happy Emmanuel, a sophomore and a prospective double major in Economics and IGS (International and Global Studies), with a minor in Legal Studies, is originally from Atlanta, Georgia. She is an ENACT Research and Advocacy Fellow, an opportunity that aligns with her passion for advocacy and community involvement. Emmanuel looks forward to collaborating with everyone involved and gaining valuable insights while contributing to positive change. Last year, Emmanuel was a docent for HBI in the Kniznick Gallery. This year she returns as special event staff.
Stephanie Kallish is a senior studying Near Eastern and Judaic Studies (NEJS) and History. She is involved in the Brandeis Orthodox Organization and is an Undergraduate Departmental Representative for the NEJS department. Kallish became involved with HBI through her work as the Jewish Feminist Association of Brandeis (JFAB) president and worked as a student docent in the Kniznick Gallery last year. Kallish is thrilled to be continuing her involvement with HBI as an office assistant because HBI is an organization that represents her values and academic interests.
Dahlia Matanky (she/her) is a senior at Brandeis University majoring in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Anthropology with minors in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies and in Religious Studies. Matanky is deeply engaged in the Jewish and feminist community, serving as the president of the Jewish Feminist Association of Brandeis. She has interned for nonprofit organizations such as Avodah, Brandeis Hillel, and Chicago Community Loan Fund and plans to pursue a career in the nonprofit sphere. She is currently working on her senior thesis which explores how young Orthodox women understand and experience sexuality in terms of their Jewish upbringings. Matanky worked as a gallery docent for the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute last year and currently works as an office assistant. She is grateful to HBI for providing a space where she is able to combine her academic and personal passions.
Defne Paker is a sophomore at Brandeis University studying Anthropology and International and Global Studies. At HBI, she is a student research assistant, working with Judy Bolton-Fasman, researching Jewish communities and gender roles in mid-20th century Greece, Turkey, and Cuba. She is excited to learn more about these topics this year. Apart from being a research assistant at HBI, Paker is involved in many on-campus clubs and works as a student ambassador at the International Student and Scholar Office.
Casey Tan (she/her) is a junior at Brandeis University studying neuroscience. She is originally from Brockton, MA. She previously worked as a student caller for the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies. In her free time, she also serves as a Digital Media Chair for Brandeis’ Southeast Asia Club. Last year, Casey was a student docent in the Kniznick Gallery where she enjoyed meeting the talented artists who showcased their art. After the exhibitions, she continued working at HBI as special event staff.
Compiled by Stephanie Kallish, Brandeis ‘25.