Rabbi April Villarreal
Associate Rabbi
Rabbi Villarreal brings with her over 15 years of experience in Jewish education. She has served as a classroom teacher, department chair, and educational leader across the country. A recipient of the Covenant Foundation’s Pomegranate Prize for emerging Jewish educators, she most recently served as Jewish Studies Department Chair at de Toledo High School. She currently works as a senior coach and program associate for Pedagogy of Partnership at the Hadar Institute, teaches as adjunct faculty at HUC’s DeLeT program, and consults nationally with Jewish organizations.
Her rabbinic training is as rich and diverse as her teaching experience. Rabbi Villarreal completed her rabbinic studies under Rabbi Nathan Cardozo and has studied in multiple batei midrash, including the Sephardic Educational Center and Yeshivat Chovevei Torah. During her studies for the rabbinate she was a Wexner graduate Fellow. She holds a B.A. in the Study of Religion from UCLA and a Master’s in Teaching from the American Jewish University.
In addition to her educational leadership, Rabbi Villarreal has served in pulpit roles in Los Angeles, Nashville, New York, and now — Portland! She brings with her a deep love of Judaism, community, and spiritual growth.
Outside of her professional life, Rabbi Villarreal enjoys reading poetry, spending time in nature (often both at once), and sharing laughter and love with her family — always with a cup of coffee in hand.
