Macaulay Connections

Recently, about a dozen Macaulay alumni in the education sector have come together to explore the creation of an alumni education affinity group. Representing educators in the private and public schools, from early childhood through high school, classroom teachers, administrators and others in the teaching and curricular fields, the group aims to harness the resources and experiences of its members and offer opportunities to share, learn, network and grow.

Inspired by Macaulay’s mission to prepare outstanding future leaders to solve the social, economic, cultural, and scientific challenges of New York City and the world, the alumni education group, the brainchild of Russel M. Neiss (Queens), hopes to provide its members with the tools, resources and connections to help them in turn provide quality educational opportunities to students across New York City, the state, and the world.

Russel Neiss is currently the Elementary and Middle School Librarian for the Rodeph Sholom Day School in New York City and a Co-Founder and Coding Monkey (Lead Coder) for MediaMidrash.org , an online Jewish educational platform linking multimedia content to innovative curricula. He has previously worked in the rare book room of the Jewish Theological Seminary, as well as a traveling Jewish educator in Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, and Louisiana with the Institute of Southern Jewish Life. He received his Master of Library Science degree with a specialization in digitization and information technologies from Queens College, and his Bachelor's degree in Religious Studies and Jewish Studies from CUNY's Macaulay Honors College at Queens College. He was the receipient of the Senior Thesis Award and the Chancellor's Community Service Award, and was the president of the CUNY Honors College Student Council (now Macaulay Scholars Council). He is currently matriculated in Brooklyn College's School of Education, pursuing a MSEd in school leadership, which will lead to certification as a School Building Leader (Principal) and School District Leader (Superintendent).

Russel has also studied Yiddish with the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research in New York, and at the Vilnius Yiddish Institute in Lithuania. A recipient of the Association of Jewish Libraries Scholarship Award, Russel is especially interested in the intersection of technology and Jewish education, and is committed to helping individuals access Jewish resources and promoting Jewish literacy. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife Rori Picker Neiss, a consultant in interfaith dialogue.