Dena Bodian

Rabbi Dena Bodian serves as college chaplain and campus rabbi within the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, where she enjoys sharing her love of Judaism and making the tradition accessible to everyone. Rabbi Dena created and published a fully transliterated High Holiday prayer book for Wellesley College, and a weekly prayer book, which in addition to the traditional liturgy, will contain teachings, prayers, poems, songs, and commentary from many Jewish alumnae.

Rabbi Dena is dedicated to building a welcoming and inclusive Jewish community through meaningful conversations, collaborative ventures, and innovative approaches to religious life. As an integral member of the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life team, Rabbi Dena works closely with residence halls to create meaningful programming for the campus community. She is especially known for her lake walks, and is most often found walking with students around campus.

Rabbi Dena received rabbinic ordination from the Chicago-based Hebrew Seminary of the Deaf and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Bryn Mawr College. Prior to her arrival at Wellesley, Rabbi Dena spent seven years at Colgate University, where she advised the Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, and atheist student groups as the associate university chaplain and director of Jewish life. She has also served as a past president of the National Association of College and University Chaplains.