Richard M. Joel, born on September 9, 1950, in Jersey City, New Jersey, United States, is a rabbi, lawyer, and Jewish scholar who received rabbinic ordination (semicha) from Rabbi Moshe Soloveitchik. He began his career in Jewish campus life, serving as director of Hillel at the University of Maryland and later as international director of Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life from 1990 to 2003. Known for his leadership in Modern Orthodox Judaism, Joel has written extensively on Jewish leadership, opposition to the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement on college campuses, and the importance of civil discourse. He served as President of Yeshiva University, after which he transitioned to the role of chancellor and president emeritus, continuing to influence Jewish education and communal affairs from New York City. His work emphasizes strengthening Jewish identity among youth and fostering dialogue in polarized environments. No major legal controversies or financial disclosures are prominently documented in public records.