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Natan Odenheimer, Content and Program Director
Natan is a sophomore at Brandeis University from Jerusalem, Israel double majoring in Philosophy and Islamic & Middle Eastern Studies. At eighteen, Natan began three years of service as a combat soldier and Sargent Commander in Magalan, a small, secretive commando unite in the Israeli Defense Forces. After completing his mandatory service, he led and trained the unit’s specialized capabilities and was hired as a Non-Commissioned Officer. He first represented Israel in North America in 2010 when he spoke to hundreds of Canadian students as part of a soldier delegation. Natan is the U.S. correspondent for Israel's largest education journal, Echos of Education, and is an occasional contributor to the magazine Eretz Acheret. Last summer, he studied Arabic at the University of Jordan.
Erica Shaps, Director of Development
Erica is a senior at Brandeis University from the Chicago area majoring in Islamic & Middle Eastern Studies and International & Global Studies with a minor in Peace, Conflict & Coexistence Studies. As an Interfaith Youth Core College Fellow, she co-founded the Brandeis Interfaith Group (BIG) and also served as Campus Relations Coordinator for Hillel . Erica recently returned from seven months in Israel teaching English in Kiryat Gat and studying in the Honors Program in Peace and Conflict Studies at University of Haifa. This past summer, she was a communications intern at American Jewish World Service. Currently, Erica works as a student advisor at the Brandeis Hiatt Career Center. She is an occasional contributor to the Huffington Post.
Chen Arad, Director of PR
Chen is a sophomore at Brandeis University, from Hod-HaSharon Israel. At seventeen, Chen was granted a full two-year scholarship to represent Israel in a Lester B. Pearson United World College of the Pacific in Western Canada, where among other activities he led Israel programming. Following his graduation, Chen worked as a fundraising coordinator for the Israel Cancer Association. In late 2007 Chen joined the Israel Defense Forces Spokesperson Unit and served for three years as a Foreign Press Spokesman at the IDF News Desk. Upon his discharge in 2010, Chen worked as a News Editor for ynet (Yedioth Tikshoret) for one year.
Sarah Geller, Logistics Director
Sarah is a senior from Philadelphia double majoring in International Global Studies and Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies and double minoring in Politics and Peace Conflict and Coexistence. From 2010-2011, Sarah was president of BIPAC (Brandeis Israel Public Affairs Committee) and now is the Editor-in-Chief of the Brandeis International Journal. In addition, she is a research assistant at the Crown Center for Middle East Studies. She just returned from a semester abroad in Lebanon, studying at the American University of Beirut (AUB). This past summer, Sarah was a research assistant at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, where she researched about Iranian nuclear negotiations
Gil Zamir, Director of Facilitation
Gil is a sophomore at Brandeis University from Kibbutz Harel, Israel majoring in Economics. At eighteen, Gil became a youth leader in the youth movement Hashomer Hatzatir. He joined the Israeli Defense Forces with his group from the youth movement, serving as a soldier and a commander in the Education Corps. Gil was involved in various initiatives to promote peace and tolerance through both politics and civil society. Due to his efforts, he received the prestigious Slifka scholarship for Coexistence at Brandeis. During his first year at Brandeis, Gil created and promoted discussions and new education programs revolving around Zionism, peace, and Israel's future.
