Acceptance Committee

Lisa Ehrlich Rapkin

Lisa Ehrlich Rapkin is an accomplished entertainment industry executive with over 25 years of expertise leading content production, promotion, and direction for film and television. Throughout her career, she has partnered with top networks and emerging brands alike to produce programming reaching millions of viewers worldwide.

She brings deep experience leading all aspects of studio and in-field production for high visibility projects from concept through launch. She has produced over 1000 hours of top-rated content for The Food Network, NBC, MTV, VH1, ABC, MSNBC, FX, Lifetime and Disney.

As a production consultant, Lisa has been working with organizations as a producer, developer and consultant on film and media projects with an emphasis on social impact initiatives.

Advising clients on concept creation, script development, and grassroots fundraising, Lisa is a natural connector with a talent for building strong relationships and for leading, mentoring and empowering teams to bring a creative vision to life. Current projects include Bending the Arc (film project working with PIH on Women’s Alliance initiative driven by film screenings), Caroline’s Wedding (Executive Producer), and Eden (Executive Producer/Producer).

Lisa has served as an adjunct professor in the Department of Media and Communication at SUNY New Paltz where she taught electronic media and studio production. Most recently, Lisa has served as a strategic advisor to Tulane University’s Career Initiative and NYU’s Production Lab Episodic Development Studio. As a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in the arts, Lisa sits on the Board of Directors of Reel Works Teen Filmmaking in Brooklyn and Tulane University’s Deans Advisory Council in New Orleans.

Lisa received her BFA in Film and Television Production from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

THOMAS LEWIS

As a student, colleague, and mentee of Jesse’s, Thomas Lewis experienced first-hand the persistence and passion with which Jesse approached his life’s work of helping students to maximize their potential. Thomas shares Jesse’s ambition for improving the quality and accessibility of education for students, and believes a focused, tailored approach to teaching and inspiring students is critical to helping them reach their goals in and out of the classroom. Jesse left a profound impact on his students and his community, and Thomas is thrilled to work with the Jesse Kolber Foundation to advance Jesse’s dream of positively shaping the lives of students.

Thomas works in the commercial real estate industry, and outside of work, he is passionate about traveling, music, and freestyle skiing.

Roger Reiersen

Roger Reiersen currently serves on the Jesse Kolber Foundation’s Acceptance Committee, evaluating applications of underserved students. Roger has been teaching with our partner organization, LogicPrep, since 2007 and has been instrumental in developing LogicPrep’s math curriculum and technology. Prior to joining LogicPrep full-time, Roger worked as an environmental engineer, a groundwater hydrogeologist, an in-situ groundwater remediation technician, and an outdoor adventure educator. While at Boston University, Roger taught calculus and physics to undergrads who demonstrated financial need in the engineering arts. Roger has a love for mathematics, a passion for the environment, an obsession with quantum mechanics, and a desire to help all students receive the education they deserve.

Marjorie Schiff

Marjorie Schiff served as an undergraduate admission officer at Duke University, her alma mater, and as an undergraduate admission dean at the University of Virginia, where she also provided strategic planning and project management during the implementation of an enterprise resource planning system. Marjorie, a member of LogicPrep's College Consulting team, offers college advising support to JKF Scholars and is proud to serve on the Acceptance Committee. Her perspective is informed by admissions work at selective private and public colleges as well as her involvement in regional advocacy for students through local School Board service and as a member of the Board of Directors for Westchester-Putnam County School Boards Association.

For more information or to make contact with an acceptance committee member, please email: contact@jessekolberfoundation.org.