Skidmore Spotlight: Martina Zobel

Martina Zobel works as the coordinator of Jewish student life at Skidmore, helping students engage with the richness of Jewish tradition. She advises Hillel and Challah for Hunger and helps students make Jewish practice relevant in their daily lives. Her varied duties can include everything from studying Talmud with students to designing posters for guest presenters.

Zobel joined Skidmore in November 2017 and uses skills she developed during years as a Jewish educator and program director. She calls the position her “dream job” because the Skidmore community is engaging and exciting, and the students, staff and faculty are very supportive.  

“I was fortunate enough take over a well-established program, which has allowed me to grow our offerings and widen our reach,” she said.

At Skidmore, Zobel enjoys Shabbat dinner, walking around campus, casually engaging in conversations and walking with students in the North Woods to gather branches for their Succah.  

“It is an honor to work with open-minded and open-hearted students,” she said.

When not on campus, she enjoys walking her dog, especially on crisp late-summer mornings; swimming in the lake and doing yoga with sand under her feet in the summer; and horseback riding in the snow, drinking hot chocolate and reading in the winter.