Maya Marcus

Jewish Life Associate

Maya Marcus serves as the Jewish Life Associate for Loyola University Chicago through Metro Chicago Hillel, where she supports student engagement, community building, and Jewish life on campus. In this role, she coordinates programming, fosters meaningful relationships, and cultivates inclusive spaces for students to explore identity, tradition, and connection.

Originally from the Maryland/DC area, Maya moved to the Bay Area in seventh grade before relocating to Chicago in 2018. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from DePaul University, with a minor in Political Science and a concentration in International Policy. During her undergraduate years, she was actively involved with Metro Chicago Hillel and completed the Jewish Learning Fellowship, deepening her commitment to Jewish education and leadership.

Following graduation, Maya embarked on a solo backpacking journey across 11 countries, culminating in two months of immersive travel and study in Israel. Her global experiences continue to inform her approach to community engagement and intercultural dialogue.

Maya is passionate about the transformative impact of Hillel on students, particularly its ability to foster pride, belonging, and joy within Jewish life. A central goal of her work is to build relationships across campus—not only within the Jewish community, but with students of all backgrounds and beliefs. She is especially committed to interfaith engagement, creating opportunities for dialogue, collaboration, and mutual understanding among diverse campus communities.

Outside of work, Maya enjoys shooting film photography with her great-grandmother’s vintage camera, journaling, and spending time outdoors with friends and family.