Dr. Georgette F. Bennett, PhD
President & Founder
Dr. Bennett, the founder of the Tanenbaum Center, started her distinguished career as an academic sociologist and has also enjoyed success as an widely published author, organizational development consultant, popular lecturer, broadcast journalist, and public affairs/marketing specialist.   As President of the Tanenbaum Center since its founding in 1992, she has spearheaded its innovative, practical programs.  Always at the cutting edge, the hallmark of her vision is an institutionally based approach to creating change.

Judith Banki
Director of Special Programs
Judith is one of the pioneers of organized interreligious dialogue and an award-winning author whose articles have appeared in Commonweal, Religious Education, the Journal of Ecumenical Affairs and The American Jewish Year Book.  She co-edited the anthology of Rabbi Marc Tanenbaum’s writings and two volumes emerging from conferences at Catholic Theological Union and Cambridge University which she helped coordinate. Awarded an honorary doctorate by Seton Hall University for her work in promoting Jewish-Christian understanding, she also received the "Peace through Dialogue" Interfaith Gold Medallion from the International Council of Christians and Jews. 

Michelle Weber, MTS, JD
Assistant Director, Communications & Religious Diversity in the Workplace
Michelle has a background in both law and religious studies, which she brings to bear on her work helping institutions worldwide grapple with religious diversity issues.  Prior to joining the Tanenbaum Center, she worked for a variety of progressive causes including reproductive rights, education law reform and prisoners’ civil rights.  She holds a BA with honors from Northwestern University, a Master of Theological Studies from Harvard University and a JD cum laude from the New York University School of Law.

Joy Osborne, Ed. M.
Assistant Director, Religion and Diversity Education
Joy joins Tanenbaum after working for a number of years as a public middle school teacher in the Bronx and Southern California.  She also worked as a dialogue facilitator around multicultural issues while an undergraduate at Pomona College.  As an intern for the Breakthrough Collaborative/Summerbridge, Joy learned that out-of-school time initiatives can have very powerful effects on the students they reach, and committed herself to creating meaningful educational experiences for all youth.  She holds a BA from Pomana College and a Masters in Education from Claremont Graduate University.

Heather DuBois, MA
Program Associate, Religion & Conflict Resolution
Heather specialized in religious peacemaking while at the University Bradford in England, where she obtained a Masters in Conflict Resolution. Subsequently, during six months of travel and independent study in Southeast and East Asia, she volunteered with peacebuilding NGOs and Christian- Muslim dialogue groups in the Philippines. Heather worked as a researcher, writer and editor at the Leon and Sylvia Panetta Institute for Public Policy. She has also served an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer, networking and supporting local violence prevention initiatives in Louisiana. Heather received her Bachelors of Arts in Political Science and English from Tulane University.

back to top

Mark Fowler
Manager of Programs
Mark E. Fowler is responsible for overseeing the design and implementation of Tanenbaum's programmatic trainings.  Mark has been involved in New York City's education community for over 20 years and is a skilled facilitator/trainer who worked with teachers, counselors, administrators and students at the Anti-Defamation League on prejudice reduction, conflict resolution, and  reducing bias and bullying.  He is is a sought-after keynote speaker and facilitator who has addressed organizations throughout New York on issues of equality in race, gender, sexual orientation and religion.  He earned a B.A. in English and Education at Duke University and was trained as a Mediation and Conflict Resolution Specialist with the NYC Department of Education.

Rachel Maryles, MA
Program Associate, Religious Diversity in the Workplace
Prior to joining Tanenbaum Rachel worked in marketing at Working Mother magazine, which advocates for the advancement of women, increased diversity in the workplace, and family-friendly policies.  Most recently, she studied organizational psychology, group dynamics, and conflict resolution at Teachers College/Columbia University and received her MA in Social-Organizational Psychology in 2006.  Rachel gained experience in organizational development while serving as an intern at The Visiting Nurse Service of New York.  Rachel received her BA with honors from the University of Pennsylvania.

back to top

Rebekah Walter, MA
Religious Affairs Associate
Rebekah focuses on religious affairs in Tanenbaum’s programs.  Before joining the organization, she worked with several nonprofit organizations both domestically and internationally focused on grassroots faith communities, education, immigration and landmine victim assistance.  Her academic work is centered on religion and social justice.  She holds an MA in Theology and Ethics from Union Theological Seminary.

Zach Larson
Development Coordinator
Zach is a Tibetan Buddhist scholar who lends his writing and leaderships skills to Tanenbaum as a grant writer and event coordinator.  Before joining Tanenbaum, he spent 18 months in South Asia conducting research and translation projects in Tibetan refugee communities.  His efforts were published in two separate volumes: Nonviolence in Tibetan Culture (2000, University of Wisconsin) and Compassionate Action by Chatral Rinpoche (2007, Snow Lion Publications).  He holds a BA in Buddhism and Politics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

back to top 

Luke Bergamini
Office Manager
Luke has spent nearly six years in administration, working primarily in the legal and non-profit fields.  Prior to coming to Tanenbaum, he spent two years at Colorado State University studying political science where he also volunteered at a small non-profit, worked as a teaching assistant, and tutored special needs students.  He holds a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science from the College of Charleston and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree at Colorado State.


back to top

Jane Lubarsky
Assistant to the Executive Vice President
Prior to joining Tanenbaum Jane worked in the for-profit sector, first in sales, and then in administration and management.

Emily Dannenberg
Administrative Assistant
Emily has an academic background in philosophy and international politics, two fields that inspired her interest in religion and its influence on all aspects of society and international relations.  Before joining Tanenbaum, she spent time in Buenos Aires assisting at a children’s center in a suburb of the city.  She plans on pursuing a doctorate in philosophy, and looks forward to embarking on a career in education.  Emily recently graduated from Skidmore College, where she earned her BA in philosophy and government.

back to top