Harold J. Masor Named New Chair of American Jewish University’s Board

LOS ANGELES—Today American Jewish University announced that Harold J. Masor, an active leader in the Los Angeles community, will take the helm as the new Chair of the University’s Board. Beginning this month, Masor will succeed outgoing Board Chair Virginia Maas, a board member of American Jewish University since 1986 and a leader in the community for more than 45 years.

Masor, who previously served as Vice Chair of the University’s Board and chair of its Audit Committee, is a retired partner of the international accounting and business advisory firm of Ernst & Young. He served at the firm for more than three decades, specializing in audits of public companies, including REITs and other real estate, and healthcare, and was the lead partner on a number of IPOs. 

An active leader in the Los Angeles community, Masor was a founder and past president of de Toledo High School and past president of Adat Ari El synagogue.  He is also a board member of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, Jacob Jonas the Company, and president of the Seymour & Elaine Masor Foundation, a support organization of the Jewish Community Foundation (JCF). At JCF, he also serves as Vice President and a member of the board.. Masor earned his bachelor's degree Summa Cum Laude from the University of Southern California. He and his wife Amy have three children.

“For decades, American Jewish University has served as a portal to Jewish connection, understanding, and spiritual growth, evolving to meet the needs of the Jewish community. Over the past 15 months, as a global pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for all institutions, AJU has effectively pivoted to serve our changing Jewish community. I look forward to working closely with my colleagues on the Board and with University leadership to continue this evolution to support and sustain talented and dedicated vibrant Jewish life in Los Angeles and across the country,” said Masor.

Outgoing Chair, Virginia Maas, will continue to serve on the Board. During her time as Board Chair and throughout her years as a Board member, Maas has been committed to advancing AJU’s mission of meeting the needs of a rapidly changing Jewish community. Through Virginia and husband Frank Maas’s generosity and vision, the Maas Center for Jewish Journeys at AJU was established in 2020. A vital component of the University’s mission of fostering inclusive Jewish communities and a far-reaching investment in the Jewish future, the Maas Center unifies a suite of programs and offers a cohesive experience that supports people in their quest for spirituality and meaning.

“Throughout the years, our Board chairs have built meaningful legacies at American Jewish University,” said AJU President Dr. Jeffrey Herbst. “We are proud to add Virginia Maas’s name to this esteemed list and are deeply grateful for her leadership and dedication. Harold Masor’s expertise and passion will be invaluable to our Board as we continue our work to advance ideas, dialogue, and Jewish wisdom.”

About AJU: American Jewish University (AJU) is a thriving center of resources and talent that advances the Jewish journeys of individuals, organizations, and our community through excellence in scholarship, teaching, engaged conversation, and outreach. AJU equips students, faculty, campers, and learners of all ages with the tools to create the ideas, build the structures, and develop the programs to advance Jewish wisdom and elevate our world. For more information, visit www.aju.edu.   

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