FACULTY & STAFF

Director

Maya Bozo-Schwartz

Director, Mandel Graduate Unit

Maya Bozo-Schwartz is the director of the Mandel Graduate Unit and has extensive experience in leading pedagogical change processes in schools and in systemic change processes in education. Before being appointed to her current position, she was the director of the Mandel Leadership Institute's Mandel Program for Academic Leadership. Prior to that, Maya was a member of the management team and head of research and development at Avney Rosha – the Israel Institute for School Leadership. She also worked at the Branco Weiss Institute, where she founded and co-directed its research and development unit. Maya holds a bachelor’s degree from the department of education and from the multidisciplinary program at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and has a master’s degree in philosophy of education from the same institution. She is currently working on her doctoral dissertation in the department of education at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, where her research explores verbal feedback in the school classroom. Maya is a graduate of Cohort 13 of the Mandel School for Educational Leadership.

Senior Staff

Asa Arbel

Senior Staff Member

Asa Arbel is a senior staff member of the Mandel Graduate Unit. He has extensive experience in the world of communications, especially in the development of content and technology for the digital world, platform development, digital strategies, and user experience. Before joining the Mandel Graduate Unit, Asa held several positions in the media world. Most recently, he served as manager of the digital division of "Kan" – The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation. In this capacity, he established the Corporation’s digital distribution system, developed innovative content, and was responsible for making special events accessible to the public. Asa holds a bachelor's degree in history and political science from the University of Haifa.

Professor Dana Arieli

Senior Staff Member

Professor Dana Arieli is the dean of the faculty of design at the Holon Institute of Technology. She is a researcher and photographer who specializes in the interrelations between art and politics in democratic and totalitarian political systems around the world. Previously, she headed the department of history and theory at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design and was a faculty member of the department of political science at Tel Aviv University. Professor Arieli completed her doctorate at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where her dissertation was titled "Between Aesthetics to Politics: National-Socialism and Plastic Arts," and was a postdoctoral fellow at Oxford University. Beyond her extensive experience in research and teaching, she initiates, curates and exhibits her works at leading exhibitions in Israel and the world. Her writings focus on art and culture, with an emphasis on the culture of memory and on extreme situations, such as war, terror, and trauma.

Karny Barak

Senior Staff Member

Karny Barak is a senior staff member of the Mandel Graduate Unit. She has extensive experience in social organizations and specializes in research and development of initiatives and programs in the non-profit sector, as well as in strategic consulting and executive coaching. Before joining the Mandel Foundation–Israel, Karny directed Nitzotz, a joint initiative of the Ministry of Social Affairs and the National Insurance Institute that operates pre-military academies for young people at risk. For the six years before that, she was head of the “My Way” programs for youth at risk of the Bat-Ami nonprofit organization. Previously, she worked for the Rashi Foundation, where she founded and managed the National Civic Service Forum, directed the research and development unit of the Ma’ase Association, and was director of the Rashi Foundation’s research and development unit. Karny holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations, sociology, and anthropology, and a master’s degree in business administration, specializing in strategy and entrepreneurship – both from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Dr. Naomi Mandel-Levy

Senior Staff Member

Dr. Naomi Mandel-Levy is a senior staff member of the Mandel Graduate Unit. Before joining the Mandel Foundation–Israel, she worked as a member of the research and development team at the Avney Rosha Institute for School Leadership, where she brought cutting-edge theoretical and practical knowledge to Ministry of Education supervisors and principals of schools serving impoverished populations. Previously, she worked in editing, writing, and knowledge development and dissemination in various settings, including the Israel Association of Community Centers, MAOZ, and the Environment and Health Fund. She has also served as coordinator of two expert committees as part of an applied research initiative that examined equality in education and explored non-formal education. Naomi holds a doctorate from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a master’s degree from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, both in political science. In recent years, she has studied editing at the David Yellin College of Education, and has served as a social consultant on matters of urban renewal.

Ruti Nissan

Senior Staff Member

Ruti Nissan is a senior staff member of the Mandel Graduate Unit. Prior to joining the Mandel Foundation–Israel, Ruti was the founder and principal of the Dora Campus, an elementary school for the arts in Netanya, which is based on an educational philosophy that emphasizes creating opportunities for high-quality, humanist education and free expression for students in Israel's socioeconomic periphery. Previously, Ruti worked in media and television, running her own production company and developing and producing program formats and prime-time TV shows for Israel’s Channel 2 as part of the Keshet Media Group. Ruti holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and film studies and a master’s degree in business administration, both from Tel Aviv University. In her new role at the Mandel Foundation–Israel, she is involved in developing new approaches for the Foundation’s graduate community. Ruti is a graduate of cohort 20 of the Mandel School for Educational Leadership.

Staff

Nelly Keinan Bachar

Staff Member

Before joining the staff of the Mandel Graduate Unit, Nelly Keinan Bachar was the administrative director and a management member of Avney Rosha – The Israeli Institute for School Leadership, where she most recently was involved in planning and implementing the budget. Prior to that, she was responsible for managing the Institute’s array of professional development activities for school principals. Nelly holds a master’s degree in governance and public policy and a bachelor’s degree in communications, both from the Open University.

Eden David

Learning Processes Coordinator

Eden David is a learning processes coordinator at the Mandel Graduate Unit and has extensive experience in operations and administration. Before joining the Mandel Foundation–Israel, she served as the Jerusalem branch manager for Zchuti, a large medical rights company. Eden holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Ono Academic College, with a specialization in human resources and in marketing and advertising.

Neta Glikman

Professional Communities Facilitator

Neta Glikman is a facilitator of professional communities at the Mandel Graduate Unit. Prior to joining the Unit, Neta served as the coordinator of the Mandel Youth Leadership Program of the Mandel Leadership Institute. Before working for the Mandel Foundation, Neta was an educational program coordinator at the Joint (JDC), where she worked on developing communal leadership in Europe. She was also a human resources consultant at a tablet plant of Teva Pharmaceuticals. Neta holds a bachelor's degree in the humanities and social sciences, and a master's degree in conflict research, management, and resolution from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (with distinction). She is also a certified mediator and group facilitator.

Keren Yitzhaki

Learning Processes Coordinator

Keren Yitzhaki is a learning processes coordinator at the Mandel Graduate Unit. Before joining the Mandel Foundation–Israel, Keren served as deputy director of the education department at the Efrat local council. In that capacity, she supported the development and implementation of educational initiatives in educational institutions throughout Efrat and oversaw the department’s budget planning. Previously, she worked as a truancy officer, providing individual support to school students and developing and implementing programs to prevent overt and “hidden” dropouts in the education system. Keren holds a bachelor’s degree in Jewish history from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and a master’s degree in communications and media from Reichman University.

Liel Ezra

Learning Processes Coordinator

Liel Ezra is a learning processes coordinator at the Mandel Graduate Unit. Previously, she served as a coordinator for the Perach student mentoring program and as an occupational assessor for Pilat HR, an assessment and placement company. Liel holds a bachelor’s degree from the honors program in the humanities and Middle Eastern and Islamic studies at Shalem College.