Leading College Presidents in Israel for AJC Project Interchange Trip
A delegation of U.S. college presidents has arrived in Israel to exchange ideas with their counterparts in the Jewish State and forge partnerships with students and faculty from both nations, as part of a trip sponsored by Project Interchange, an educational institute of American Jewish Committee (AJC).
For more than 40 years, Project Interchange has brought thousands of decision-makers to Israel to draw informed conclusions about the Jewish State for themselves.
“Israeli universities are on the cutting edge when it comes to research and scholarship in many important fields,” said Project Interchange Director Nisha Abkarian. “Colleges are in the business of learning and the exchange of ideas on trips like these has led to many fruitful collaborations.”
The delegation includes:
- Carmen Ambar, Oberlin College
- Julio Frenk, University of Miami
- Paula Johnson, Wellesley College
- Sarah Mangelsdorf, University of Rochester
- Todd Saliman, University of Colorado
College presidents and administrators have been regular visitors on Project Interchange delegations since the program began in 1982. Project Interchange has since brought more than 6,200 participants from all 50 states and 121 countries to Israel for intensive, high-level educational experiences.
Tour participants will meet with their counterparts from Israeli universities to learn about programs aimed at fostering student innovation and entrepreneurship and opportunities for partnership in the agricultural sciences. They will meet with strategic experts who can add context to Israel’s security concerns, expand their understanding of Palestinian and Arab-Israeli narratives, and engage with leaders of Israel’s diverse culture and society.
Last year, the first cohort from Historically Black Colleges and Universities went to Israel with Project Interchange, as did a group of college deans.
AJC is the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people. With headquarters in New York, 25 offices across the United States, 14 overseas posts, as well as partnerships with 38 Jewish community organizations worldwide, AJC's mission is to enhance the well-being of the Jewish people and Israel, and to advance human rights and democratic values in the United States and around the world.
