Dear Friends,

Today, as I commence my tenure as the President of the University of Haifa, I am honored to address you – our family of supporters and partners.

This past year has been among our nation’s most difficult, beginning with the tragic events of October 7th that claimed the lives of University of Haifa students, graduates, and family members of faculty and staff. Just yesterday, Israel was hit by another major missile attack from Iran, fortunately with no casualties. Many in our community have been serving in the IDF reserves over the past year, and we continue to pray for the safe return of the hostages still held in Gaza.

The University of Haifa stands ready to lead the rehabilitation of northern Israel, where over 70,000 residents were displaced. Higher education has a vital role in this national effort, and we are committed to rebuilding and supporting these communities.

We are a University that embraces the remarkable resources that surround us – the Mountains, the City, and the Sea – as living laboratories, setting us apart from other universities in Israel, with sustainability remaining a core pillar of our strategic vision for the future.

I wish you all Shana Tova  – a year of health, peace, and new beginnings for our University and our nation. May we soon see the return of all hostages and the healing of our homeland.

Warm regards,
Prof. Gur Alroey
President

*The above are excerpts from President Alroey's official message. READ FULL MESSAGE

(l-r): Prof. Arin Salamah-Qudsi, Prof. Oren Gazal-Ayal, Prof. Mouna Maroun, Prof. Gur Alroey, Mr. Sharon Zaid, Prof. Tally Katz-Gerro, Mr. Gideon Herscher, and Prof. Ofer Arazy. 

As we embark on a new academic year, we are excited to welcome our new leadership team. Prof. Gur Alroey, who has served as the University’s Rector for the past three years, will become our 12th President, and Prof. Mouna Maroun will take office as the incoming Rector.

Introducing the Presidential Team:

• Prof. Oren Gazal-Ayal
  Vice President and Dean of Research & Development
• Mr. Gideon Herscher
  Vice President of Transformational Philanthropy and Global Resource Development
• Prof. Tally Katz-Gerro
  Vice President for Global Engagement
• Mr. Sharon Zaid
  Vice President and CEO
• Prof. Arin Salamah-Qudsi
  Academic Head, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission
• Prof. Ofer Arazy
  Director of Innovation and Sustainability

We look forward to their leadership and the exciting opportunities ahead in this new chapter for the University.

(l-r): Stephanie Trump (who performed the hooding for her husband Jules Trump), Jules Trump, President Gur Alroey, Mark Hirsch (who performed the hooding for Eddie Trump), and Eddie Trump at the conferment ceremony in New York.

The University of Haifa proudly congratulates Jules and Eddie Trump on receiving our highest honor, the Doctor of Philosophy, Honoris Causa. In a private ceremony, Prof. Gur Alroey awarded the honorary degree to both recipients, in recognition of their visionary leadership and steadfast belief in the transformative power of quality education – especially in mathematics and the sciences – as a catalyst for social mobility. Their long-standing dedication to the people of Israel, their transformative philanthropic contributions to the academic landscape, and their investment in human capital as a vital national resource have left a profound impact. We also celebrate their enduring friendship with the University, its students, and faculty.

The University of Haifa has unveiled a powerful new memorial sculpture, "Hole in the Heart," generously donated by artist and philanthropist Soraya Sarah Nazarian. This moving piece, now standing in the University’s Memorial Plaza, honors the fallen heroes of October 7th and the Swords of Iron War. Carved from stone, the sculpture features a hole through which viewers are invited to gaze, symbolizing the shifting perspective that comes with grief. The view is narrow at first but expands as one steps closer, offering a broader outlook on the world and altering our orientation forever.

Soraya Nazarian is an Iranian-born, Los Angeles-based artist renowned for her stone carvings exploring themes of family, spirituality, and culture. A longtime supporter of Jewish causes and the State of Israel, Soraya, together with her late husband Younes Nazarian, z"l, has been a cherished friend of the University, contributing through scholarships and the establishment of the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Library.

“Swarm is all you Need”
Dr. Oren Gal’s Swarm & AI Lab models natural swarm behavior, harnessing cooperative strategies and wisdom for AI-driven robots to tackle real-world tasks, from environmental monitoring to disaster response.

UNIVERSITY OF HAIFA

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