By: American Friends of University of Haifa Published: December 25, 2024
Three new professionals have recently joined American Friends of University of Haifa (American Friends of University of Haifa), as the organization expands its team at a highly impactful time for its mission amid the war in Israel.
American Friends of University of Haifa is dedicated to increasing awareness and financial support for University of Haifa to ensure its continued excellence in teaching, research, and community service. Now, the University’s status as a beacon of hope in the realm of shared society is arguably more significant than ever. As Israel’s most diverse campus, with 40% of the student body consisting of Arabs, the University will play a central role in ensuring that all sectors of the Israeli population are able to come together and rebuild a diverse civic society in the aftermath of the October 7 Hamas attack.
At the same time, American Friends of University of Haifa is supporting the University’s navigation of the war in a number of crucial ways — from fundraising efforts to address urgent humanitarian needs in Israel, to hosting webinars featuring high-level experts that keep the American Jewish community informed about the war and its implications, to exhibiting solidarity with Jewish students who are experiencing antisemitism on U.S. campuses.
American Friends of University of Haifa’s new staff members include:
Kate Shalvoy, American Friends of University of Haifa’s new Chief of Staff, is a versatile nonprofit leader with 20 years of experience driving growth, building collaborative teams, and advancing strategic priorities for organizations in the U.S., India, and Israel. Her background is mainly in international education and Jewish organizational leadership, which included 2 years in Haifa where she partnered with University of Haifa’s International School to establish Council on International Educational Exchange’s first study center in Israel.
Keith Babich, who has joined American Friends of University of Haifa as Director of Development, was the Senior Development Officer at the Jewish Home Foundation, where he worked extensively on endowments, capital campaigns, and special events and programs. He has focused on building meaningful relationships with stakeholders, blending their philanthropic goals with organizational needs, thus maximizing the impact for both organization and donor. He has more than 20 years of experience in the private and non-profit educational finance sector.
Natalie Chevalier, Executive Assistant, has over five years of experience directly supporting high-level executives in many different fields. She has worked in both small and large companies and organizations. She specializes in supporting day-to-day administrative functions like scheduling and correspondence.
“Prior to the current war, University of Haifa and American Friends of University of Haifa were already playing an essential role in building Israel’s future. After October 7th, there is even more at stake,” said Naomi Reinharz, Chief Executive Officer of American Friends of University of Haifa. “As such, we could not be expanding our staff at a more opportune time. I am delighted to welcome Kate, Keith, and Natalie to the team.”