She started her career in education at the University of Central Missouri where she served as an assistant professor in the English department.
[4] Gitenstein then moved to SUNY Oswego where she was subsequently named chair of the English department, and later appointed assistant provost.
[4] In 1992, Gitenstein moved to Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she served as executive vice president and then provost.
[citation needed] Gitenstein has served on several corporate boards and committees, including the New Jersey Resources Corporation,[1] the Mercer County Holocaust Advisory Committee,[4] the Greater Mercer County and the New Jersey Chambers of Commerce,[4] and co-chairman for the Guardian Angels dinner-dance hosted by Catholic Charities,[4] board member of The Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton.
[4] Gitenstein has published several articles on Jewish and American literature, authored the book "Apocalyptic Messianism and Contemporary Jewish-American Poetry.