Past President Renee Karp has been recognized, with the 2025 Gail Reese Ward Award for Excellence in Mentorship, at the SMU Women’s Symposium.

The Gail Reese Ward Excellence in Mentoring Award commemorates Gail Ward, 1950-2003, who coordinated the SMU Women’s Symposium from 2000 to 2003 and created the Profiles in Leadership Awards program. It recognizes an award recipient for especially significant contributions as a mentor to girls and women.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS AMAZING RECOGNITION!

Past President Renee Karp briefly taught at Akiba Academy and later became a member of the professional staff at Temple Emanu-El, where she served for 33 years. Renee has been part of the education staff from 1975-1985, then Program Director from 1985-2008, and has continued teaching the Introduction to Judaism program until last year. Renee’s credentials include a bachelors degree, a master’s degree and leadership training certifications from the Union for Reform Judaism and The Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University.

Around 1980, Renee joined the National Council of Jewish Women, where she held various committee chair positions, board positions, executive committee positions, and served as section president from 2018-2020. Currently, she sits on the National Board.

Renee Karp’s CV includes numerous organization, commission, and board positions focused on Jewish education, leadership, or public service, striving to educate and improve the quality of life in our world. Renee also serves as a member of the City of Dallas Senior Affairs Commission (SAC) for District 11.