As part of his duties as Special Advisor to the President on Jewish Engagement, Scott Levin, Esq., will establish and lead a task force dedicated to combating antisemitism. (DePaul University/Jeff Carrion)Today, DePaul President Robert L. Manuel appointed Scott Levin, Esq., former regional director of the Anti-Defamation League’s Mountain States Region, to the role of Special Advisor to the President on Jewish Engagement, effective immediately.
In this role, Levin will work with the university community to assess policies, practices and campus culture related to antisemitism. He is tasked with creating a comprehensive action plan with specific recommendations for policy improvements and community engagement.
Levin will also establish and lead a task force dedicated to combating antisemitism. The task force will be comprised of internal and external stakeholders, who will help create DePaul’s own approach to understanding and confronting antisemitism.
“At DePaul, our Catholic, Vincentian mission calls us to uphold the dignity of every person and to foster a community where everyone feels welcome and safe,” Manuel says. “Now more than ever, it is important to bring our community together to assess our policies, practices, and campus climate to determine what actions we need to take, in alignment with preserving our mission.
“Scott brings deep expertise, compassion and a history of principled leadership to this important work,” Manuel says. “His appointment reflects our commitment to ensuring that Jewish students and all members of our community feel safe, valued and supported. We are grateful for Scott’s partnership as we seek to align our values with meaningful change.”
An important part of Levin’s review will be examining DePaul's approach to academic freedom, considering how it is applied in the context of hate speech and antisemitism. In collaboration with faculty, he will share recommendations for how the university can maintain a commitment to academic integrity while protecting all members of the community from hate.
Scott Levin, Esq., is the former regional director of the Anti-Defamation League’s Mountain States Region. (Photo courtesy of Scott Levin)"I have spent over 14 years as a professional fighting antisemitism and hate," Levin says. "I am impressed by the commitment President Manuel and the Board of Trustees have made to ensure DePaul is safe and welcoming for students of all faith traditions. As Special Advisor to the President on Jewish Engagement, I am glad to bring my experience and talents to DePaul where I will work to improve the lives of Jewish students and others on campus."
In 2024, Levin retired after 14 years of service as regional director of the ADL’s Mountain States Region, serving Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming. Prior to his role with the ADL, Levin spent nearly 30 years as a trial attorney.
Previously, Levin was appointed by Colorado Governor Jared Polis to serve as a member of the state’s Peace Officer Standards and Training Board. He was also appointed by former Denver Mayor Michael Hancock to be a member of his Equity and Reconciliation Taskforce.
Levin has served on several non-profit boards, including the Metropolitan State University of Denver Foundation, Rose Community Foundation, the Denver Jewish Day School, JEWISHcolorado, Stepping Stones to a Jewish Me, Temple Emanuel and the ADL Mountain States Regional Board. He has been the recipient of many awards, including the Interfaith Alliance of Colorado’s Force for Good Award, Newsed Community Development Corporation’s Civil Rights Award, and ADL’s Torch of Liberty and Champion of Justice Awards.
In the coming weeks, Levin will begin his work by engaging with groups across the university community. Additional information about progress on these initiatives will be shared with the university community when available.