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Meet Milken's 2026–2027 Scholars in Residence
Jon Avnet, Joel A. Feuer, and Doris Sung join the Scholar in Residence program this year, with Dr. Sam Torbati and Rabbi Ed Feinstein returning.
Each year, our Scholar in Residence program brings accomplished leaders to campus to mentor students, share their expertise, and model what it looks like to pursue meaningful work at the highest level. This year, we are thrilled to introduce three new Scholars in Residence: Jon Avnet, Joel A. Feuer, and Doris Sung. We are also delighted to welcome back Dr. Sam Torbati to the Mitchell Academy of Science + Technology (MAST) and Rabbi Ed Feinstein to the Beit Midrash Fellowship.
We also thank Dr. Noreen Green and Victor Kohn for their contributions as Scholars in Residence last year.
New This Year
Jon Avnet
Storytellers Signature Program
Jon Avnet is an acclaimed director, producer, and screenwriter whose career spans film, television, and theater. He directed and produced Fried Green Tomatoes and produced films including Risky Business and Black Swan. His television work includes directing Uprising, which explores Jewish resistance during the Holocaust, as well as episodes of Justified and Sneaky Pete. A two-time Directors Guild of America Award nominee, Avnet brings decades of experience developing characters and bringing stories from the page to the screen. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Sarah Lawrence College and studied directing at the American Film Institute.
A Milken grandparent, Avnet is in his first year as Scholar in Residence for the Storytellers Signature Program and will work with students in 2027. Through his mentorship, students will explore the creativity, discipline, and collaboration behind compelling narratives, refine their own voices, and consider how stories connect people and shape our understanding of the world.
Joel A. Feuer
Law + Public Policy Signature Program
Joel A. Feuer is an attorney and educator with extensive experience in business law, corporate governance, and legal education. He served as Executive Director of the Lowell Milken Institute for Business Law and Policy at UCLA School of Law. Previously, as a partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, he advised corporations, directors, and officers; handled complex business litigation; and co-chaired the firm’s Los Angeles and Century City litigation department. Feuer graduated magna cum laude from Pomona College, earned first-class honours in politics, philosophy, and economics from the University of Oxford, and received his J.D. from UC Berkeley School of Law.
Feuer has coached Milken’s mock trial team for the past two years, helping students build legal arguments and courtroom skills through simulated trials. Now in his first year as Scholar in Residence, he brings his experience in law and leadership to engage students in exploring business, public policy, and responsible decision-making.
Doris Sung
Architecture + Design + Innovation (AD+I) Signature Program
Doris Sung is an architect, educator, and innovator whose work explores how buildings can respond to their environment. A professor at the University of Southern California School of Architecture, she develops smart materials that allow building surfaces to shade and ventilate themselves as temperatures change, without electricity or controls. Her patented inventions bring together architecture, science, and sustainability, with a focus on improving public health for building occupants and pedestrians. Sung holds a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University and a Master of Architecture from Columbia University, and she lectures and exhibits internationally. Her work has earned numerous design awards, and she has received fellowships from the Rockefeller Foundation, United States Artists, and Google’s R+D for the Built Environment.
As Scholar in Residence for the AD+I Signature Program, Sung brings inventive thinking that inspires students to explore how design can address environmental challenges.
Welcome Back
Dr. Sam Torbati
Mitchell Academy of Science + Technology (MAST)
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, he is a nationally recognized leader in clinical innovation, research, and education. His work has advanced best practices in emergency medicine, with research published in leading journals including The New England Journal of Medicine and The Lancet.
As Scholar in Residence for MAST, Dr. Torbati draws on his expertise in medicine, research, and ethics to engage students in real-world applications of science and healthcare. A dedicated educator and mentor, he exemplifies leadership, compassion, and intellectual curiosity. Dr. Torbati is a Milken parent and a proud alumni parent.
Rabbi Ed Feinstein
Beit Midrash Fellowship
Rabbi Ed Feinstein is a renowned theologian, author, and educator known for his inspiring teaching on Judaism and spirituality. At Valley Beth Shalom, he serves as a teacher, pastor, and visionary leader, playing a central role in the spiritual life of the congregation. He also serves on the faculty of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at American Jewish University, where he helps prepare the next generation of rabbis. His books include Tough Questions Jews Ask and The Chutzpah Imperative: Empowering Today’s Jews for a Life That Matters, and he is a sought-after speaker on topics ranging from Jewish ethics to contemporary issues.
Rabbi Feinstein returns as Scholar in Residence for Milken’s Beit Midrash Fellowship.
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.
Non-discrimination Policy: Milken Community School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, financial aid, athletic, and other school-administered programs.
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