One Minute With

One Minute With Ruth Anne Koenick
October 24, 2008

Name: Ruth Anne Koenick

Occupation: Director of Sexual Assault Services and Crime Victim Assistance at Rutgers University, and teaches "Women in Culture and Society" a course in Rutgers Women's and Gender Studies.

Family: Married 35 years to Paul A. Herman, a dean at Rutgers University, who also teaches in the first year writing program. Son Joshua, director of marketing and communications at Rancho Las Palmas Resort, Palm Springs Calif. is married to Lisa, a public relations consultant. They live in Palm Springs with their 4-month-old daughter Mackenzie Barbara Herman. Daughter Molly is a senior at the University of Maryland and double majoring in Studio Art and Art Education.

Community activities: Current president of Congregation B'nai Tikvah/JCC of North and South Brunswick. Past president of B'nai Tikvah Sisterhool. On the Board of Hyacinth AIDS Foundation for 15 years. Chaired AIDS Walk N.J. for nine years.

Hobbies: Knitting. "I have a small knitting business, Two Witty Knitters, with my friend Jill Greenbaum. We sell at Craft shows on weekends."

Self-portrait: "I am a committed Conservative Jew, which is really the only time I use the word conservative to describe myself. I believe that being an active part of a Jewish community is central to our personal growth, our ability to repair the world, and to create change in our community."

Motto: "Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring, and integrity they think of you."

Greatest accomplishment: "Being at the beginning of the modern day anti-sexual violence movement and having co-founded the first rape crisis center on a college campus at the University of Maryland 40 years ago. The work I have done, both direct service and policy development, has impacted on the lives of thousands of survivors and their families."

Bad habits: "I have some challenges with being organized."

Favorite TV show: "My favorite all time show is 'Mash' because it makes such a strong anti-war statement. I also love the 'Daily Show'."

Favorite food: "Currently, my husband's spaghetti sauce and in memory, my mother's Sticky Buns. Every time she made them, the extended family who lived within walking distance would know and show up."

Best childhood memory: "Being in the company of my cousins while growing up. The Koenick Cousins club met on a very regular basis for over 50 years. We lived in Chevy Chase, Md. and almost all of my cousins, aunts, uncles, and extended family lived within walking distance. Together, we enjoyed holiday celebrations and being given the same parts each Pesach seder, fall cookouts on Skyline Drive in the fall, and watching the Washington Senators play baseball in old Griffith Stadium."

People don't know that I... "was arrested in the anit-war demonstrations of the 1960s and filed a class action suit against the Chief of Police of Washington, D.C., Jerry Wilson and President Nixon. It is part of the Senate Congressional Record of May 5, 1971."

Last book I read: "I rarely get a chance to read anything that isn't related to work, but when I do I read biographies and fiction by Faye Kellerman or Sandra Brown."

The biggest asset in the local Jewish communities: "I think that each individual is an asset. We just have to find a way to make connections and to value each and everyone."

The biggest problem in the local Jewish communities: "The lack of trust between congregations. I think if we could all work together in a collaborative and collective way, we would enhance the Jewish community."

If I had more time: "I would be someplace on a hot beach with my family, a good beach book, and my knitting. I would spend far more time with my children and grandchild."