For Scott, campus life and Jewish community have always gone hand in hand. As an undergraduate, he was deeply involved across campus, serving as IFC President, sitting for three terms on the student government senate, leading within his AEPi chapter, and working as a Hillel intern. Those experiences gave him lifelong friends, mentors, and a deep pride in his Jewish identity. Scott went on to work professionally for AEPi before becoming one of the first field staff members for TAMID Group, an organization that connects students to the Israeli economy through business consulting, stock investing, and a premier summer fellowship program in Tel Aviv. Now, as Executive Director, he is focused on honoring Mizzou Hillel’s rich 80-year past while building an exciting new chapter of growth, impact, and deep connection on campus.

Before coming to Columbia, Scott was the Campus Director at Colorado State University Hillel. There, he significantly grew student participation by focusing on real relationships and belonging, helping establish RAMs for Israel and AEPi while launching flagship experiences like an annual camping Shabbaton and leading Birthright Israel trips. At Mizzou, he wants Hillel to feel like home for everyone, focusing on dynamic student collaboration and campus partnerships. His philosophy is simple: there is no such thing as being “kind of Jewish” or a “bad Jew.” Whether you are highly observant or just beginning to explore your roots, if you are curious and respectful, you belong here, and you can usually expect a batch of his signature Indian-style shakshuka at the next student gathering.

When he is not at Hillel, Scott is fully leaning into the SEC lifestyle, cheering on Mizzou sports, and is very excited to hate on kU. He is an avid traveler who has spent months exploring places like India, Morocco, and Colombia, and he was even granted permission from the Egyptian government to photograph mostly abandoned synagogues around Cairo. Here in Columbia, he stays busy outside of work by hitting the gym, hiking, catching up on movies and TV, playing guitar and piano, and responsibly working toward his 300-beer plaque at iTap.

His door is always open and the coffee is on him. Come by and say hi. M-I-Z!

Zakariya has over 22 years of expertise in finance and operations with a strong track record in managing multi-million-dollar, federally funded peace programs and not for profit organizations. 

He worked for major international donors, including the U.S. Government, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Affairs (DRL), the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), and the World Bank. Also, Zakariya serves as a Director of Operations at Hillel At Temple University.

He is passionate about working in multicultural environments and dedicated to supporting vulnerable individuals from all communities regardless of their backgrounds.

Zakariya holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration (MBA). He grew up in the United Arab Emirates and currently resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.