Prof. Alice Shalvi is an internationally renowned pioneer of the Israeli feminist movement and revered professor of English. Prof. Shalvi founded the English Department at Ben-Gurion University (1969), and served as head of the Institute of Languages and Literatures at the Hebrew University (1973-1975), head of the Pelech High School for religious girls (1975–1990) in a voluntary capacity, and as Rector and later as acting President and Chairwoman of the Executive Board of the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies (1997-2001). She also served as the founding Chairwoman of the Israel Women’s Network (1984-2000), Israel’s major feminist advocacy organization. Over the course of her career, Prof. Shalvi has received a variety of awards and accolades for her outstanding public service: including the Presidential Award for Volunteerism for her devoted work in improving quality of life in Israel and serving as one of 12 inspiring torchbearers at Israel’s 30^th Independence Day Ceremony on Mount Herzl. In 2007 she received the Israel Prize for her contributions to education, women’s rights and civil rights. She holds honorary degrees from the University of Judaism, Gratz College, Jewish Theological Seminary of America, Weizmann Institute of Science and Brown University.

Ora Etrog Stibbe is a psychotherapist, certified instructor in art therapy psychodrama, and a social entrepreneur who supports and volunteers tirelessly to promote and advance social justice and human rights, particularly within disadvantaged populations and developing countries. For over twenty years, Mrs. Stibbe has worked as a therapist specializing in anxiety and depression. Ora and her husband Eytan founded Anatta Ltd., a social benefit company that founded the ‘Adam Campus’ academic and treatment center, serving the population of the mixed Jewish-Arab city of Lod, with treatments of psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, diagnosis and program development for the local educational institutes and communities. The couple also supports a wide range of social interventions, including programs for at-risk-youth (Nirim), day care and after school programs for children of refugees with no Israeli status (Unitaf), and academic programs at a number of Israeli universities. At the University of Haifa, they have generously contributed to the University’s flagship International MA Program in Child Development, which has attracted dozens of professionals from over 30 developing countries. Ora Stibbe is passionate about and has been personally involved with the MA Program for over a decade, making a significant impact on human development while promoting the international standing of the University of Haifa and the State of Israel.

Born and raised in Lod, Faten began her career in community development as an educator    and social coordinator at the integrated Arab-Jewish school at the village of Wahat Al Salam. Eager to serve her home community, she engaged in mediation and facilitation of intercultural dialogue in Lod while serving as an advisor to the Mayor of Lod on Arab Affairs, in her capacity as the Executive Director of Mosaic: Lod Multicultural Center in the Ramat Eshkol neighborhood, considered one of the toughest in Israel. Faten organizes residents towards collaboration and the establishment of a shared neighborhood agenda. She holds a BA in Education from Beit Berl College, and an MA in Management, Conflict Resolution and Negotiation from Bar Ilan University. Faten is married and raises four children.

Batia Shani was born in 1954 in Haifa, Israel. She is married and has 3 children and 6 grandchildren. Batia turned art into her main occupation 30 years ago, while living and working in New York, London, Milan, and Israel.  She is a multi-media artist with a focus on Mail Art, Painting, Embroidery and Collage.  Her art deals with social issues; violence against women and families; people in crisis, refugees and more.  Since the 1990’s she has exhibited her work at many art fairs, galleries and museums around the world including Israel, London, New York, Tokyo, Paris and Basel.

Lawrence S. Bacow is the 29^th President of Harvard University.

One of higher education’s most widely experienced leaders, President Bacow is committed to supporting scholarship and research, encouraging civic engagement, and expanding opportunity for all. From 2001 to 2011, he was president of Tufts University, where he fostered collaboration and advanced the university’s commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and public service. Prior to Tufts, he spent 24 years on the faculty of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he held the Lee and Geraldine Martin Professorship of Environmental Studies and served as Chair of the Faculty (1995-97) and as Chancellor (1998-2001). 

An expert on non-adjudicatory approaches to the resolution of environmental disputes, President Bacow received an S.B. in economics from MIT, a J.D. from Harvard Law School, an M.P.P. from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and a Ph.D. in public policy from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Prior to his election to the Harvard presidency in February 2018, he served as a member of the Harvard Corporation (2011-18), a Hauser Leader-in-Residence at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government (2014-18), and a President-in-Residence at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (2011-14). 

President Bacow was raised in Pontiac, Michigan, by parents who were both immigrants. He and his wife, Adele Fleet Bacow, were married in 1975 and have two adult sons.

Alfred I. Tauber is a Professor Emeritus of Medicine and Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, specializing in hematology, biochemistry and immunology. He has served on the faculties of Harvard University and Boston University. Prof. Tauber is also Chairman Emeritus of the University of Haifa’s Board of Governors (2013-2019), and has been an indispensable force of change for the University, advancing the institute’s physical and academic growth as well as its community-based initiatives.
In addition to his distinguished career as an immunologist and wide philanthropic activities, Prof. Tauber has taught and written extensively on ethics, the philosophy of science, and the history of ideas, seeking non-conventional bridges in pursuit of creating a more equal, inclusive and just society.
For his critical studies of immunology, he received the Science Medal from the Institute of Advanced Studies (ISA) of the University of Bologna (2008), and an honorary doctorate from the University of Haifa (2011). He was also recognized for his philanthropic activities promoting social welfare, education and research at the University and in Israel through the Laszlo N. Tauber Family Foundation, which he established with his sister Ingrid nearly two decades ago, in memory of their late father.
Prof. Tauber is among the University’s most foremost donors, giving generously to initiatives including student scholarships, innovative study programs, technology transfer innovation, campus-wide initiatives, building projects and pioneering research studies.

Prof. Deborah F. Shmueli is faculty member in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of Haifa.  Currently Head of the National Knowledge and Research Center for Emergency Readiness, Israel and a co-Principal Investigator of the Minerva Center for Law and Extreme Conditions,  Prof. Shmueli has served in numerous administrative capacities at the University including Department Head.  She publishes widely on environmental and public policy, land, water, and planning issues.   Strong foci are public sector and environmental conflict management, community and institutional capacity building and resilience, and public engagement.  Prof. Shmueli has worked intensively on land issues with Bedouin communities in the Negev. Prof. Shmueli currently serves as one of five permanent members of the Haifa Metropolitan Area Permanent Geographic Boundary Committee, Ministry of Interior.  She is heading a number of comparative research projects regarding COVID-19 including issues of governance, policy and strategies, and well-being.

A senior executive and serial achiever in the world of social justice, Shira’s impact over the past 20 years has focused on disability rights & inclusion, US-Israel relations and strategic philanthropy. As Executive Director of the Ruderman Family Foundation, she has successfully established disability rights as a field of social impact and introduced a new paradigm for the discourse concerning Israel and the American Jewry’s relations. She serves as a mentor to individuals and organizations at critical stages of growth, based on her philanthropic experience as both a donor and a foundation director. Shira holds an MA in Public Policy and a BA in Education from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Shira and her husband Jay Ruderman received honorary doctorate degrees from the University of Haifa in 2015 in recognition of their visionary leadership. The Ruderman Foundation generously established the MA Program for American-Jewish Studies at the University of Haifa.

The couple currently live in Boston with their four children.

At the forefront of social impact and change leadership, Jay has dedicated the past 12 years to igniting new ideas and seeing through the implementation of bold, game-changing projects in the areas of inclusion, disability rights and strategic philanthropy – which he has also written extensively about. As President of the Ruderman Family Foundation, he has sought social justice by advocating for people with disabilities worldwide and educating Israeli leaders on the American Jewish Community. Jay brings a track record of political/public engagement - including within AIPAC and sits on multiple boards. He graduated from Brandeis University with honors and received his J.D from Boston University School of Law.

Jay and his wife Shira Ruderman received honorary doctorate degrees from the University of Haifa in 2015 in recognition of their visionary leadership. The Ruderman Foundation generously established the MA Program for American-Jewish Studies at the University of Haifa.

The couple currently live in Boston with their four children.