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Meet Our Student Trailblazers!
Mazi Melesa-
From Operation Solomon to UH Leader
Mazi came to Israel in 1991 from Ethiopia in Operation Solomon. Once on campus at UH, she became Chairperson of the National Ethiopian Students Organization, engaged her fellow Ethiopian students, and empowered them to get involved within their communities throughout Israel. Her leadership was critical; UH has the highest percentage of Ethiopian students of all Israeli universities.
Andrew Zakim - Bringing the Middle East Together Through Art and Music
Andrew Zakim, of New York, NY, could have just studied and kept to himself during his year abroad at UH's International School in 2008. Instead, he used his free time to explore Israel, volunteering and meeting people from every culture in the country. The experience sparked a deep curiosity in how cultures interact, and helped inspire Andrew to launch Notes for Peace, an award-winning project that brought youth together through music and art to promote understanding in the Middle East.
Our Academic Stars
Admiral (Ret.) Ami Ayalon, Chairman, Executive Committee, University of Haifa Board of Governors
Passionate about the relationship between democracy and terrorism, Ayalon sees the University as the future of Israel, from an academic and social standpoint. He strongly believes in the University's mission to leverage the potential of ALL the residents of the North for the betterment of the State. He has a long and distinctive career in Israel’s political, military, and public sectors. Ayalon served as Director of the Shin Bet (Israel’s Security Agency) from 1996-2000, was head of the Israeli Navy from 1992-1996, and has served as a Member of Knesset.
Mr. Leon H. Charney, Chairman, University of Haifa Board of Governors
Personally connected to the University's Marine School of Marine Sciences, Charney considers marine sciences to be a significant part of Israel's future. Passionate about the University and its potential to deliver based on connections to the Port, the Navy, and the sea. A prominent philanthropist, lawyer, author, and broadcaster, Mr. Charney has served as an advisor to statesmen, such as U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Israeli President Ezer Weizman.
In response to requests from Carter and Weizman, Charney served as a backdoor channel to bring Israel and Egypt together, ultimately leading to the Camp David Peace Accords and the historic Camp David Peace Agreement.
Dr. Brenda Shaffer, Senior Lecturer, University of Haifa, School of Political Sciences
A noted global expert and thought-leader in energy politics and natural gas, Shaffer has worked for a number of years as a researcher and policy analyst for the Government of Israel. See a clip of Dr. Shaffer at last year’s Herzliya Conference
Dr. Sarit Larisch, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Sciences; Head, Laboratory for Cell Death and Cancer Research, Department of Biology, University of Haifa
A recipient of the prestigious Johnson & Johnson Focused Funding Grant for her research on the cause of brain cell damage in Parkinson's disease, Larisch holds six patents and patent applications. Dr. Larisch is currently developing a revolutionary type of cancer therapy in the form of novel, selective anti-cancer drugs, termed ARTS-based drugs. ARTS-based therapy has the potential to cure a wide range of cancers, including melanoma, leukemia, breast, liver, and ovarian cancer and will also be useful in treating Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease.
Prof. Gal Richter-Levin, Co-Director, Institute for the Study of Affective Neuroscience, University of Haifa; Head, Haifa Forum for Brain and Behavior
Making major contributions in the areas of drug addiction, mood and anxiety disorders, and understanding traumatic memory and depression, Richter-Levin is a world-leading scientist in the understanding the role of emotions in memory formation and the effects of stressful experiences in early life on cognitive and emotional abilities in adulthood.
Prof. Amatzia Baram, Professor, Middle East history; Director, Center for Iraq Studies, University of Haifa
Widely considered one of the world’s foremost experts on Iraq, Baram is best known for testifying before the U.S. government about Saddam Hussein in September 2002. He is the author of over 70 articles and five books, including his latest, “Mosque - State Relations in Iraq, 1968-2009: From Militant Secular Reason to Islamism,” due in 2012.
ASUH News
Dr. Younes Nazarian Visits Campus
Jan 20, 2012—Dr. Younes Nazarian, a longtime supporter of ASUH and the University of Haifa, was on campus to see the latest renovations to the expansion of the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Library, scheduled for completion in Spring 2012.[More]
ASUH and Amatzia Baram in TX and FL
Dec 2, 2011—
"Look to Iraq to if you want to understand the dramatic change happening today in the Arab world."
[More]ASUH and Prof. Gal Richter-Levin in Chicago
Chicago, IL, Aug 8, 2011—
ASUH and Professor Gal Richter-Levin changed thinking and opened minds in two eye-opening lectures in Chicago last Thursday and Friday. Prof. Richter-Levin, Co-Director of the Institute for the Study of Affective Neuroscience at the University of Haifa and Dean of its Faculty of Natural Sciences, explained how a better understanding of...[More]
The 2011 Board of Governors Meetings
Haifa, Israel, Jun 20, 2011—Hundreds of members of the University of Haifa's Board of Governors gathered at the 39th Board of Governors Meeting (BOG) in June, to participate in the Opening Plenary Session, committee meetings, and numerous special events and dedications celebrating this past year's notable achievements at the University.[More]
What's Happening
New UH study: Inheriting Stress
Sep 1, 2011—A new University of Haifa study reveals that a young person's experiences - both positive and negative - can influence his/her children later on in life.
[More]
New Biological Breakthrough from University of Haifa
Haifa, Israel, Mar 3, 2011—
Immunological research at the University of Haifa has made a new breakthrough, revealing a critical component in the "decision-making" process of white blood cells that play a role in the healing process from bacterial inflammation.
[More]University of Haifa Provides Haven Amidst Unrest in Egypt
Haifa, Israel, Feb 24, 2011—When uprisings in Egypt recently broke out, Elon University (South Carolina) management turned to the University of Haifa with an urgent request to take in five of its students who had just days earlier begun their semester at the American University in Cairo. The University of Haifa welcomed the students with open arms.
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Alumni Event
Tuesday, May 15: NYC
Celebrating UH's 40th!
Network and celebrate with fellow alumni and friends at ASUH's Alumni Association Kick-Off event.
Free drinks and appetizers from the David Burke Kitchen!
RSVP to Erik Levis at elevis@asuh.org or (212) 685-7880.
Profiles from Campus
Israel Prize for UH's Prof. Yaacov Dorchin
Haifa, Israel, Mar 10, 2011—
The University of Haifa is brimming with pride as it has been announced that the Israel Prize for Fine Arts for 2011 is to be awarded to Prof. Yaacov Dorchin of the Department of Fine...[More]
Upcoming Events
40th Annual Board of Governors Meetings
June 3-5: Haifa, Israel
More information here
ASUH Alumni Association Networking Event
Tuesday, May 15
7pm
The James Hotel: The Birds' Nest
23 Grand Street, New York City
You Can Change The World!
Our students and cutting-edge researchers
Celebrating its 40th, thriving and successful! The University of Haifa, Israel's youngest university of higher education and research nurtures the innovative research of students and faculty. Trail-blazing academic initiatives found nowhere else in Israel; marine sciences, energy research, security and terrorism studies, law, and brain research. [more]