May 10, 2022

Following Jewish National Fund-USA’s (JNF-USA) MoU signing with the University of Arizona and Israel’s Arava region, JNF-USA is continuing to boost collaboration between Israeli and US institutions as 33 participants from universities and colleges across the U.S. prepare to travel to Israel on the 2022 Summer - June Faculty Fellowship Program.

Participants will take part on the trip (June 4 - 17, 2022) where they will travel throughout Israel, meeting Israeli professors from their respective disciplines and with the same, or similar, research interests, all with the goal of developing collaborations, research projects, co-authoring articles, and establishing exchange programs between faculty and students. The tour, which more than 300 have already taken part in, is a fully-paid intensive program to Israel for full-time U.S.-based academics from a recognized university/learning institution. JNF-USA also runs the annual Caravan for Democracy Student leadership Mission to Israel, of which 80 college students will travel to Israel in May/June, the Summer Faculty Fellowship Program in Israel, and a host of other trips and missions.

Through the support of JNF-USA’s Boruchin Fund and individual donors, hundreds of professors and faculty members from universities and colleges across the nation have taken part in the annual Summer Faculty Fellowship Program in Israel. “The Faculty Fellowship program in Israel is a life changing experience that tantalizes all the senses,” said Professor Molina Walters, STEM Education, Arizona State University. “One sees the life of Israel, hears the history of Israel, tastes the flavors of Israel, smells the aromas of Israel and feels the heart of Israel.”

Participating US-based schools for this trip include: University of Maine, Rutgers University, St. Louis University, Duke University, Florida State University, Allegheny University, East Tennessee State University, Southern Connecticut State University, University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, Kennesaw State University, Drexel University (Jennifer Adams, PhD, and Tamara Galoyan, PhD), Washington State University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Kent State University, University of Arkansas-Pine Bluffs, University of South Florida, Clemson University, Arizona State University, Florida Atlantic University, Virginia Tech, Creighton University, Temple University, Oklahoma State University, University of Mississippi, Penn State University, University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley, Rowan University, Vanier College, and Auburn University.

“It has been a while since I’ve been so deeply challenged physically, academically and emotionally as the two weeks I spent experiencing Israel with the JNF Faculty Fellowship,” said recent participant and Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech Professor Vitor Mercadante. “This is a truly transformative program and I will forever cherish the people I met and the moments I experienced in Israel.”

During the trip, the 33 participants will meet Israelis from all walks of life and will hear from a variety of speakers. They will also be exposed to contemporary Israeli society, culture, historical sites, the people and the way of life in Israel. The academics meet with professionals and experts involved in government, industry, education, media, and other sectors to understand the many facets of Israel's evolving national and international policies. Those who take part will gain a deeper awareness of Israel as a ‘start-up nation,’ its success in water innovation, and how the country addresses regional and global challenges.

To learn more about the universities and professors taking part in the 2022 Summer-June Faculty Fellowship Program in Israel or from prior years’, or to register for future programs, visit http://www.ff2israel.org/ or contact Rene Reinhard at 212.879.9305 ext. 235 or Eileen Wedeen at 212-439-7855.

About Jewish National Fund-USA
JNF-USA is the leading philanthropic organization for Israel that supports critical environmental and nation-building activities in Israel’s north and south. Through its One Billion Dollar Roadmap for the Next Decade, JNF-USA is developing new communities in the Galilee and Negev, connecting the next generation to Israel, and creating infrastructure and programs that support ecology, individuals with special needs, and heritage site preservation.