Academics
Scholar-in-Residence
Scholar in Residence Program
Launched fall 2023, Milken Community School's Scholar in Residence program featured two acclaimed scholars, Dr. Leon Alkalai, a retired NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Technical Fellow and Founder and CEO of Mandala Space Ventures, a space-focused incubator for start-ups in the emerging space economy, and Rabbi Ed Feinstein, who serves the Valley Beth Shalom community as a teacher, pastor and visionary leader. Building on the success of the first year of the Program, Milken proudly welcomed Maestra Noreen Green, the Founding Artistic Director and Conductor of the renowned Los Angeles Jewish Symphony as the inaugural Performing Arts Artist in Residence. For the 2025–2026 school year, we are proud to welcome Victor Kohn and Dr. Sam Torbati as our newest Scholars in Residence.
With nearly four decades of experience at Capital Group as a portfolio manager specializing in Emerging Markets, Victor Kohn brings unparalleled real-world expertise to Milken students in the Finance and Entrepreneurship Signature Program. Dr. Sam Torbati, Chair and Medical Director of the Cedars-Sinai Emergency Department and Levin-Gordon Chair in Emergency Medicine, brings world-class expertise in medicine, research, and leadership to the Mitchell Academy of Science + Technology (MAST) Signature Program.
With nearly four decades of experience at Capital Group as a portfolio manager specializing in Emerging Markets, Victor Kohn brings unparalleled real-world expertise to Milken students in the Finance and Entrepreneurship Signature Program. Dr. Sam Torbati, Chair and Medical Director of the Cedars-Sinai Emergency Department and Levin-Gordon Chair in Emergency Medicine, brings world-class expertise in medicine, research, and leadership to the Mitchell Academy of Science + Technology (MAST) Signature Program.
Milken’s Scholar in Residence Program signifies the school’s unwavering belief in the potential of its students and underscores Milken’s commitment to academic excellence, connection to Judaism, and dedication to fostering intellectual exploration.
Rabbi Ed Feinstein will continue to engage with students and faculty to enhance the Milken Signature Program, the Beit Midrash Fellowship, an advanced, innovative Jewish studies program that integrates high-level text learning, social action, leadership, community-building and celebration. As the Performing Arts Scholar, Maestra Noreen Green’s students will have the unique opportunity to rehearse and perform alongside members of the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony at celebrated venues throughout Southern California. Victor Kohn will bridge theory and practice, offering case studies, mentorship, and interactive discussions that inspire students in the Finance & Entrepreneurship Signature Program to think critically and creatively about finance, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Dr. Sam Torbati will guide MAST students in exploring the intersection of medicine, science, and ethics—connecting classroom learning with real-world healthcare innovation.
For the 2025–2026 school year, we are proud to welcome Victor Kohn and Dr. Sam Torbati as our newest Scholars in Residence. We thank Leon Alkalai for serving as our MAST Scholar in Residence for the past two years.
For the 2025–2026 school year, we are proud to welcome Victor Kohn and Dr. Sam Torbati as our newest Scholars in Residence. We thank Leon Alkalai for serving as our MAST Scholar in Residence for the past two years.
Rabbi Ed Feinstein
Rabbi Ed Feinstein is a renowned theologian, author, and educator, known for his inspiring teachings on Judaism and spirituality. He serves the Valley Beth Shalom community as a teacher, pastor, and visionary leader, playing a central role in the spiritual development of his congregation. In addition to his work at Valley Beth Shalom, Rabbi Feinstein's dedication to education extends to various institutions. He serves on the faculty of the Ziegler Rabbinical School of the American Jewish University, where he imparts his wisdom to future generations of religious leaders. He has authored several influential books, including "Tough Questions Jews Ask" and "The Chutzpah Imperative: Empowering Today's Jews for a Life That Matters," which have resonated with readers worldwide. Rabbi Feinstein's insightful commentary and thought-provoking lectures have made him a sought-after speaker on topics ranging from Jewish ethics to contemporary issues.Maestra Noreen Green
Dr. Noreen Green is the Founding Artistic Director and Conductor of the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony (LAJS), which she created in 1994. A trailblazing, inspirational conductor, educator and lecturer known worldwide for her knowledge and skill in presenting music with Jewish themes, she has served as guest conductor and lecturer in the United States, Israel, South Africa, Spain, Australia, Canada and the Caribbean. Wherever she appears, Dr. Green exudes a spirit of joy and harmony – bringing people together through the universal language of music through a Jewish lens. Due to her noteworthy accomplishments and prominence in her field, Dr. Green was recently inducted into the prestigious Marquis Who’s Who Biographical Registry. She also has been honored by Musical America, the oldest and most prestigious American magazine on classical music, as one of the Top 30 Musical America Professionals of the Year, which hailed her as “the most energetic advocate for Jewish music and music-making in the Los Angeles area.” Her life and career has been the subject of a Spotlight Series documentary by the Milken Archive of Jewish Music.
Victor Kohn
With a distinguished 39-year career at Capital Group, Victor Kohn, CFA, MBA, has served as Portfolio Manager at Capital International, Inc., as well as President of Capital International, Inc. His deep expertise in emerging markets was rooted in his early work as an Equity Investment Analyst at Capital, having arrived after valuable experience in the venture capital group at Montgomery Securities. A proud alumnus of the Stanford Graduate School of Business, Mr. Kohn holds an MBA, and carries summa cum laude degrees (both bachelor’s equivalent and a master’s) in industrial engineering from the Universidad de Chile. He also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. Born and raised in Chile, he relocated to the United States in 1982. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Mr. Kohn serves on the Board of AIPAC, and is deeply involved in the Jewish community through Valley Beth Shalom synagogue and Camp Ramah. He and his wife, Lisa, live in Los Angeles, where they have raised their two daughters. His career exemplifies the melding of rigorous analytical acumen, global perspective, and leadership, and his presence as Scholar in Residence promises to ignite students’ ambition, nurture their intellectual curiosity, and open pathways to global markets and the world of finance.Dr. Sam Torbati
Dr. Sam Torbati, MD, FAAEM, FACEP, is Chair and Medical Director of the Cedars-Sinai Emergency Department and holds the Levin-Gordon Chair in Emergency Medicine. A board-certified physician and Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Dr. Torbati is a nationally recognized leader in clinical innovation, research, and education. His work has advanced best practices in emergency medicine, with published research in top journals including The New England Journal of Medicine and The Lancet.As Scholar in Residence for Milken’s Mitchell Academy of Science + Technology (MAST) Signature Program, Dr. Torbati brings his expertise in medicine, research, and ethics to engage students in exploring real-world applications of science and healthcare. A dedicated educator and mentor, he exemplifies leadership, compassion, and intellectual curiosity. Dr. Torbati is both a Milken parent and proud alumni parent.
Scholars in Residence Emeriti
Dr. Leon Alkalai
Dr. Leon Alkalai is a retired Technical Fellow and a 32-year veteran of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), California Institute of Technology, and as of 2021, the Founder and CEO of Mandala Space Ventures, a venture studio in Pasadena dedicated to advancing the state of the art of entrepreneurship in space. During his illustrious career at JPL, Dr. Alkalai held numerous leadership positions and was responsible for the capture leadership of both the GRAIL mission to the Moon (2007) and the INSIGHT lander on Mars (2012). For his exceptional contributions to these groundbreaking missions, Dr. Leon Alkalai received Distinguished Individual Achievement medals from NASA in 2011 and 2019, respectively. Dr. Alkalai's commitment to advancing space science and technology extends beyond his roles at JPL and at Mandala Space Ventures. Dr. Alkalai is a Full Member of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) where he has been recognized for his leadership in advancing space science and engineering as well as international partnerships. Dr. Alkalai is an internationally recognized thought leader in space, an active mentor, educator and visionary. 
At Milken Community School, we think education is more than what you know. Our School, founded on Jewish values, is about who our children can become and how they can help others become who they might be. Because the world our children will create tomorrow is born in the School we build today, our mission is to educate our children so they can surpass us.
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