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Who We Are and What We Do

About Us

Who we are and what we do

Established in 1956, the United States Israel Educational Foundation (Fulbright Israel Commission) facilitates academic exchange between the United States and Israel. Fulbright Israel awards up to 80 fellowships each year for academic, educational, cultural, and professional .exchange programs, thus fostering a lasting dialogue and long-term relationship between the people of the United States and Israel

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Vision, Mission and Values

Our mission
Almost seventy years have passed since the inception of the Fulbright program in Israel, aiming to expand Israeli - American collaboration through the exchange of talent and knowledge. Our mission seems as important today as it was when it began.

The Fulbright Israel Commission invests in the most important factor that makes Israeli society advanced and the relationship between Israelis and Americans more resilient: the Fulbright community of fellows who are talented and motivated leaders. The program nurtures promising young talents and more senior academics who constantly push the limits of human knowledge. We believe in the power of the Fulbright journey to contribute to the efforts of our fellows to reach and touch diverse audiences in various ways. Excellence and innovation in education are essential to Israeli society. They go hand in hand with social responsibility. Our commitment to these principles is evidenced in our fellows who represent and support the diversity of both Israel and the U.S.

Our vision
Our vision is to play an instrumental role in cultivating an exchange of knowledge between the U.S. and Israel and to strengthen partnerships in all academic fields, the sciences, the arts, and the public humanities. We believe in the value of face-to-face encounters between Israelis and Americans and their contribution to the resilience of the relationship between the two states. Fulbright Israel will continue to invest in education and help nurture future leaders, who can think and act globally.


 

The History of the Program

The Fulbright Program was initiated by U.S. Senator James William Fulbright to promote mutual understanding between the United States and partner countries around the world through academic and cultural exchange. 

Fulbright is unique in its binational structure and noted for its merit-based selection process based on academic accomplishments and the potential to address complex global problems. Our fellows come from all backgrounds and are selected regardless of their race, age, religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The United States-Israel Educational Foundation (USIEF) was established in 1956 by the governments of the United States and Israel to administer the Fulbright Program in Israel. 

Around 160 partner countries have participated in the worldwide Fulbright exchange since its inception in 1946. There are 50 binational Fulbright Commissions all over the globe, including Israel which joined in 1956. More than 400,000 scholars have been sponsored, 62 of whom later received the Nobel Prize and 95 the Pulitzer Prize. Fulbright Israel is proud of its two Nobel Laureates.
 

Board of Directors

U.S. Ambassador Jacob J. Lew

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Mr. Sender Cohen

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Mr. John “Jeff” Daigle

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Ms. Joëlle Uzarski

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Ms. Alisa Mall

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Professor Yoseph Mekori

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Ms. Nurit Tinari

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Ms. Pnina El-Al

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Ms. Galit Baram

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Professor Naomi Chazan

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Professor Ehud Gazit

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Ms. Rakefet Russak-Aminoach

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Mr. Thomas R. Nides

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Ms. Pamela Reeves

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Professor Ariela Dubler

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Dr. Jessica Liebowitz

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Staff

Dr. Anat Lapidot-Firilla

Executive Director
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Dr. Anat Lapidot-Firilla

Executive Director

Anat joined the Fulbright Commission in 2015. Prior to joining Fulbright Israel, she was senior research fellow and Academic Director of the Mediterranean Program at the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute. She is founding editor of Journal of Levantine Studies, a semiannual Academic journal. She taught Middle Eastern studies and Turkish Studies at the Department of International Relations at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Between 2009-2014 she headed the Israeli network of the Anna Lindh Foundation for Intercultural Dialogue. Anat received her BA in Jewish History and Middle Eastern Studies from Tel Aviv University, and holds a PhD from the Department of Politics, the University of Durham, U.K. 

Noa Turgeman

Deputy Director
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Noa Turgeman

Deputy Director

Noa Turgeman is the Deputy Director of Fulbright Israel.

She previously served as the Program Director at the Israeli Green Building Council and has held executive and development roles at the San Francisco Jewish Federation and Lehrhaus Judaica in Berkeley, California. She holds two master's degrees, one in comparative literature and the other in East Asian Studies from Tel Aviv University and is currently a PhD candidate at Bar-Ilan University. She is an amateur photographer, passionate about Japanese culture and art; Noa resides in Tel Aviv with her partner and three children and enjoys an urban lifestyle and commutes to work by bicycle every day.
 

Simcha Luzon

Finance Manager
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Simcha Luzon

Finance Manager

Simcha is the financial officer of Fulbright Israel. She is responsible for the funds and budgets that come from the U.S. and Israeli governments, responsible for all financial matters and submitting year-end reports. Before that, she worked in hi-tech companies as a finance department manager.

 

Esti Sherbelis

Office Manager
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Esti Sherbelis

Office Manager

Esti is the Office Manager at Fulbright Israel. Prior to this, Esti worked as an international public relations consultant. She also served as the Public Diplomacy Officer and PA to the Ambassador of the Australian Embassy in Israel for over six years. Before this, Esti worked as the International Relations Coordinator at the Israeli Medical Association for several years, working closely with many health institutes and organizations, including the World Medical Association.

Esti holds BAs in English and Education as well as certificates in public relations and business management, all with high honors.  
 

Besan Abu Abeid

Israel Student Programs Coordinator
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Besan Abu Abeid

Israel Student Programs Coordinator

Besan is the Programs Coordinator for Israeli fellows traveling to the U.S. 

As the Students Programs Coordinator, Besan recruits and supports the admissions of top students to U.S. universities, drives brand awareness through events in Israel and the U.S., and fosters collaborations with local and international partners.

Prior to this position Besan worked for the UK Israel Tech Hub at the British Embassy in Israel, where she coordinated the formulation and delivery of acceleration programs and activities in the Arab tech community, connecting the emerging Arab tech sector to business opportunities in the U.K. and enhancing the assimilation of the Arab community in the high-tech ecosystem.

Besan is the founder & host of “Shfit Ahel” a parenting podcast hosted by Radio Nas.
 

Leon Franco

Israel Scholars' Programs Coordinator
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Leon Franco

Israel Scholars' Programs Coordinator

Leon Franco is the program coordinator for Israeli scholars at Fulbright Israel.

Prior to his current position Leon was an operations manager at IPO (Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra). Leon holds an MA degree in Literature from Tel Aviv University. He is currently a PhD candidate at the School of Cultural Studies at TAU.

Leon has authored two novels: Engineers of the Human Soul (Afik Books, 2020), which earned him The Ministry of Culture Award for Debut Writers; and Tsitskovich Publishing House (Rosinante Books, 2022). 
 

Kat Lacey

U.S. Programs Coordinator
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Kat Lacey

U.S. Programs Coordinator

Kat has a background in and passion for international education and previously managed all short-term and customized programming at the Lowy International School at Tel Aviv University. She received her BA from the University of Colorado Boulder and worked for community-based non-profits before moving to Israel. Kat enjoys international travel, rollerblading, exploring new food spots, and all outdoor activities.