Spertus Institute Welcomes Alyssa Dickman as Faculty Chair of its Center for Jewish Leadership

Alyssa Dickman, an educator and professional coach with more than twenty years of experience in talent and leadership development, has joined Spertus Institute’s Academic Team as Faculty Chair of the Center for Jewish Leadership.

For Ms. Dickman, who teaches for Northwestern's School of Professional Studies, this role is new, but not her connection to Spertus. She has served on the Spertus faculty since 2020, teaching Leading People Through Change for students in Spertus Institute’s Executive MA in Jewish Professional Studies program and Communications for Leaders to participants in the Certificate in Jewish Leadership program that Spertus presents in partnership with Northwestern.

About her appointment, Dr. Keren E. Fraiman, Spertus Dean and Chief Academic Officer, said: “Alyssa joins the Spertus team in this new role at an exciting time of institutional growth and innovation.”

“At Spertus and beyond, Alyssa’s impact has been significant. She helps students critically assess their leadership and grow with intent. Building on her outstanding work as a faculty member, she will guide the academic work and strategic growth of Spertus Institute’s Center for Jewish Leadership. She will help us experiment with new leadership-based programs designed to build the adaptive capacity of the people and organizations who serve Jewish communities—regionally and around the world.”

A Chicago-area native who lives in the city’s Andersonville neighborhood, Dickman came to education and coaching by way of a circuitous path. She worked for many years as a stage manager in Chicago theater. She then started a second career working in Human Resources and Talent Acquisition. She completed her MA in Learning and Organization Change at Northwestern and worked at Slalom Consulting in their Organizational Effectiveness Practice before starting her own coaching and consulting business.

She is an ICF (International Coach Federation) accredited coach and hosts a podcast on the art and science of leadership.

At Spertus, we look forward to her bringing all aspects of her experience to her work with our students, helping them learn, blend theory and practice, and become transformative leaders.

About Spertus Institute

Spertus Institute offers dynamic learning opportunities, rooted in Jewish wisdom and culture and open to all. Graduate programs and workshops train future leaders and engage individuals in exploration of Jewish life. We often hear from students and participants that their experiences at Spertus are inspiring and even transformative. That is by design, because the Institute strives to offer thought-provoking content with real-world application, unparalleled resources, and a welcoming environment that encourages people to connect in an open exchange of ideas.

Spertus Institute is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Chicago.

Spertus Institute is a partner with the Jewish United Fund in serving our community.