“AARC Welcomes New Executive Director” By Emily Eisbruch was originally published in the Washtenaw Jewish News’ December 2025 Edition.
The Ann Arbor Reconstructionist Congregation (AARC) is delighted to
welcome Elizabeth Brindley as its part-time Executive Director. Elizabeth
started this new role in October. Her responsibilities include managing the
congregation’s administrative functions, publicity and outreach, event
coordination and more.
Elizabeth is a Michigan native, originally from the Saginaw / Bay City Area. In
addition to her role with the AARC, she also works in the Ohio Department
of Rehabilitation & Corrections as a librarian in a men’s maximum security
prison.
Elizabeth earned a Bachelor’s in Public & Nonprofit Administration from
Eastern Michigan, and a Master’s of Library & Information Science from
Louisiana State University. She has several other certifications as well,
including holding cosmetology and massage licenses in Michigan, being
Mental Health First Aid certified, and having worked as a roller skating
instructor in her early twenties.
“I centered a lot of my college studies around the decolonization of
repositories and on libraries as tools to create strong, healthy communities,
and I’ve found that I’m passionate about building communities that are safe,
inclusive and joyful for everyone,” says Elizabeth.
With humor, she notes that in her personal life she’s basically the
stereotypical librarian: she has six cats, wears almost exclusively handmade
cardigans, and reads anything she can get her hands on.
“My favorite fiction genres are Fantasy and Sci Fi, but if I’m honest I mostly
read nonfiction, particularly on social issues. I also really love history and
spiritual thought. I have a lot of hobbies: I cross-stitch, paint miniatures for
table top games like Dungeons & Dragons, and write a whole lot of different
stuff. My main project right now is a combination of a self-care manual for
corrections staff and research into alternative justice models that are more
humane and compassionate to the people in prisons, both those there by
force and those there for money.”
“We are absolutely delighted to have Elizabeth stepping into this newly
expanded role,” says AARC Board Chair Dave Nelson. “As our community
grows, so does our need for dedicated professional staff, which are the life
support system for a spiritually energetic community. We look forward to
seeing Elizabeth and the community thrive together.”
The AARC is a caring, inclusive and music-loving community of people who
want to practice and study Judaism, or simply be around people who share a
commitment to Judaism’s values. The AARC’s spiritual leader, Rav Gavrielle
Pescador, is known for her warmth, her collaborative spirit, and her
incredible voice and harp playing. You are invited to visit
https://aarecon.org/ or email info@aarecon.org to learn more about the
Ann Arbor Reconstructionist Congregation.
