As a teacher and a consultant, Tresa Grauer has devoted her professional life to exploring and supporting Jewish identities, stories, and traditions.

As the Vice President for Thriving Communities, Grauer heads the team that provides programs and services in partnership with affiliated congregations and havurot across the movement. This work includes consulting with communities to help them flourish; creating, gathering, and sharing resources; and convening and connecting Reconstructionists on land and online (e.g., through leadership forums, the plenum, Israel trips, and the upcoming movement-wide convention). 

Grauer lived in Israel for more than a decade, teaching Jewish American literature as well as feminist and cultural studies at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev from 1997-2009. She also taught in the women’s studies and American studies programs at Temple University and as a visiting assistant professor in the departments of English, Judaic studies and women’s studies at the University of Michigan. In addition to her Affiliate Support work at Reconstructing Judaism, Grauer also teaches contemporary Jewish American literature and culture to rabbinical students. Her Bachelor of Arts, master’s degree and Ph.D. in English language and literature are from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.