About the
Azrieli Fellows
Program
The Azrieli Fellows Program was established in 2007 to create a network of leading academics and professionals committed to raising Israel’s profile while maintaining strong academic links between Israel and the rest of the world.
The program supports and nurtures the formative stages of an academic career through its three fellowship tracks: Graduate Studies, International Postdoctoral, and Early Career Faculty. True to its core values, the program fosters interdisciplinary and cross-cultural dialogue, leadership development, community involvement, professional mentorship, and an expanding alumni network.
Azrieli Fellows are celebrated for their exceptional ability to conduct innovative research and an eagerness for intellectual exploration that transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries. By enabling multidisciplinary research and the cross-pollination of ideas, the Azrieli Fellows Program breaks down silos, encourages creative thinking, and drives out-of-the-box solutions to some of the world’s most pressing issues.
Excellence
Azrieli Fellows are an elite group of top-tier academics focused on original, internationally recognized research that will have a positive impact on society.
Innovation
The key to innovation is in encouraging “out-of-the-box” thinking – creativity which opens the doors to discoveries, whether in architecture, science, humanities, social sciences or education. We believe in this “high-risk, high reward” model and so does each Azrieli Fellow.
Impact
Candidates applying to the Azrieli Fellowship are assessed on their past academic performance, and equally on their commitment to the betterment of not only their academic community but society at-large.
Leadership
By enabling multidisciplinary study and the cross-pollination of ideas, the Azrieli Fellows aim to break down academic silos and drive cutting-edge solutions to some of the world’s most pressing issues.
“It’s not enough to be up to date; you have to be up to tomorrow.”
– David Ben-Gurion
I think the world’s greatest resource is its human capital.
The Azrieli Fellows Program identifies, catalyzes and ignites this capital by forming an elite group of academics which, through research and shared experiences in Israel, raises the country’s profile and maintains strong academic links between Israel and the rest of the world.
Academia is global by nature. By enabling multidisciplinary study and the cross-pollination of ideas, the Azrieli Foundation aims to break down academic silos, encourage creative thinking and drive out-of-the-box solutions to some of the world’s most pressing issues.
Azrieli Fellows are considered not only on their past academic performance, but on their potential to generate innovative contributions in their respective fields. They are driven by a desire to search for what has yet to be discovered and by a determination to seek progress and have an impact on society.
We are proud to be a part of their journeys.
Naomi Azrieli, OC, DPhil
Chair and CEO
The Azrieli Foundation
Aviad A. Stollman, Global Director
Aviad is the Global Director of the Azrieli Fellows Program. He holds a BA in the Humanities from the Open University of Israel, an MA (summa cum laude), and a PhD in Talmudic Philology, both from Bar-Ilan University. Aviad carried out postdoctoral research at the Schusterman Center for Jewish Studies at the University of Texas in Austin. Before joining the Azrieli Foundation, Aviad served as the Head of Collections at the National Library of Israel, where he oversaw the strategic development of the library’s cultural assets. Aviad is married to Elisheva and is a proud father of five.
Rochelle Avitan, Program Director
Rochelle has managed the Azrieli Fellows Program since its establishment in 2007. She is responsible for conceptualizing and operating the program, working with university management and leading academic figures, as well as Fellows and program staff. Rochelle comes from a background in philanthropy, business and international relations. She coordinated worldwide brand accounts for local and international advertising agencies and played central roles in a number of philanthropic organizations supporting the State of Israel. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Jewish History and Land of Israel Studies, and certification in teaching and tour guiding. Rochelle is married to Meir, is a mother of two and a proud grandmother of six.
Ceighley Cribb, Campaign Manager
Ceighley is the Campaign Manager of the Azrieli Fellows Program. She is responsible for the strategy and implementation of the program’s international outreach to universities, faculty members, and prospective top-tier postdocs. Prior to joining the Azrieli Foundation, Ceighley worked for Israel’s leading international public relations and communications firm, securing coverage for clients in news outlets such as The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. She has also held various research, editorial, and communications roles in academia and research institutions. Ceighley received her MPhil in Modern Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Oxford and an MA in Women’s and Gender History from Sarah Lawrence College.
Yael Bar David, Events & Administrative Coordinator
Yael brings a wealth of knowledge to her role; before her current position, Yael held the title of Office Manager in the high-tech sector and ran her own successful events production company. When she is not working, Yael enjoys spending time with her husband Noam and their daughter and beach-going and quality time with friends and family. Yael holds an MBA and a BA in Sociology from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Jenia Kelner, MSW, Well-Being Officer
Jenia Kelner is the Well-Being Officer for the Azrieli Fellows Program, where she applies her extensive experience in social work and project management to enhance well-being of the Fellows. Jenia is pursing her PhD at the Bob Shapell School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University, specializing in recovery from addictions and mental health. Her professional background includes significant roles, mainly in caring for students’ welfare in an academic environment. Jenia’s commitment to social welfare is also evident in her volunteer work, where she has provided psychological first aid for Ukrainian refugees in Poland.
Julie Mattos-Hall, Fellowship Manager
Julie Mattos-Hall holds a PhD from the University of Exeter, UK. Her research focused on unconventional new religious movements in nineteenth-century Britain and America, exploring the historical roots of New Age spirituality. It was later published as a book by Oxford University Press. Julie has held postdoctoral fellowships in Israel, the US, and Germany and published widely on nineteenth-century cultural history and religion. Most recently, she worked in global executive search across various industries. Julie is a longtime meditator, plays classical piano, and loves everything about Japanese culture. She lives in Zichron Yaakov with her son, Yishai.
Tal Mordoch, Admissions Manager
Tal is responsible for the screening and admission of new candidates and acts as the liaison between universities and the Azrieli Foundation. He holds a bachelor’s degree in State-of-Israel Studies from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and a master’s degree in Security Studies from Tel Aviv University. Tal has a background in developing international programs at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv University. Recently, Tal has been certified as a social organizations director by the Herzliya Municipality. Tal is married with two daughters. In his spare time, he is the professional coach and manager of the Tel Aviv Pioneers American Football Team.
Dafna Sofrin-Frumer, Analyst and Project Manager
Dafna is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data in order to develop measures to improve processes and optimize results. She holds a BA in psychology (summa cum laude) from Bar-Ilan University and an MA in developmental and experimental psychology (magna cum laude) from Haifa University. Before joining the Azrieli Fellows Program staff, Dafna served as the clinical research coordinator for the Child Psychiatry Division of Sheba Medical Center. She also has a background in guiding and developing educational programs for the Israel Nature and Parks Authority and the Jewish Agency for Israel.
