Photo of Michaela Brown

Michaela Brown

Associate Chaplain for Jewish and Interfaith Life, Chaplain's Office

Rabbi Michaela Brown is an ordained rabbi currently serving as the Associate Chaplain for Jewish and Interfaith Life at Carleton College and St. Olaf College. She completed her rabbinic ordination and earned her Master’s in Jewish Studies in 2024 from Hebrew College, a non-denominational institution in Newton, MA. She also holds a Bachelor’s in Jewish Studies with a minor in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from the University of Virginia, received in 2017.

Rav Michaela has engaged deeply with traditional Jewish texts at various yeshivot, including Hadar (Summer 2019), Pardes (Summer 2018 and Year 2022-2023), and SVARA (Talmud Pedagogy Fellowship 2022). Her work and study in non-denominational Jewish settings have shaped her pluralistic approach, focusing on the needs of both individuals and communities.

Passionate about social justice and community organizing, Rav Michaela has been a rabbinical student fellow with T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights and has actively organized her peers throughout her studies. She finds joy in learning and teaching traditional Jewish texts, especially Talmud, Zohar, and Hasidut, and is committed to making these texts relevant in contemporary contexts.

Her commitment to peer-led education is reflected in her involvement with organizations such as Hillel, Moishe House, OneTable, SVARA, and Kavod in Boston. Rav Michaela’s Jewish identity and leadership passion were significantly influenced by her time with BBYO, where she served as International N’siah (President) from 2013 to 2014.

Originally from Northern Virginia, Rav Michaela is excited to establish her new home in Minneapolis.


At Carleton since 2024.