The Sixth Cohort of the Americans for Ben-Gurion University Zin Fellows Leadership Program will begin in January 2022 with 23 dedicated leaders who have been selected to become ambassadors for Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) and Israel in their local communities. Ari Ackerman from New York, Seth Harlem from Florida, and Susan Szafir from Seattle are among the 23 participants representing a wide range of age groups and backgrounds.
The two-year program creates a cohort of passionate community leaders who are committed to improving the world by advancing David Ben-Gurion’s vision for creating a world-class institution of education and research in the Israeli Negev desert.
“The Zin Fellows are tomorrow’s leaders of American Jewry: connected to Ben-Gurion’s vision of building Israel through a world-class university in the Negev,” says BGU President Prof. Daniel Chamovitz.
Americans for Ben-Gurion University partners with the University through a variety of programming and community outreach initiatives. The organization is dedicated to developing the Negev region and ensuring Israel’s future by supporting impactful research, innovation, and education initiatives, including the Zin Fellows Leadership Program.
“Our Zin Fellows Leadership Program serves a remarkable role when it comes to invigorating a new generation of leadership at Americans for Ben-Gurion University. In fact, we are immensely proud that 25% of our board of directors consists of Zin Fellows alumni, including the President of our Board of Directors, Gary DeBode,” says Americans for Ben-Gurion University Chief Executive Officer Doug Seserman. “I’m thrilled to welcome the next cohort of extraordinary Zin Fellows.”
Zin Fellows have raised close to $4 million in support of Americans for Ben-Gurion University.
“I am very fortunate to have been afforded the opportunity to participate in the third cohort of our Zin Fellows Leadership Program,” says President of the Board of Directors at Americans for Ben-Gurion University, Gary DeBode. “As we are now preparing for the sixth cohort, I enjoy reflecting back on how truly life changing it was for me, as I found my pathway to help support Israel’s future through Americans for Ben-Gurion University.”
The program provides an in-depth course of study that provides participants with the insight and knowledge to become partners in the remarkable and ambassadors for Israel and Ben-Gurion University (BGU) in their local communities.
