Mr. Gideon Herscher recently joined the University of Haifa’s executive leadership team as VP for Transformational Philanthropy and Global Resource Development. He leads the University’s global team of dedicated fundraising professionals and works closely with President Gur Alroey to realize the University’s mission and vision.

Gideon brings with him 23 years of experience partnering with philanthropists around the world. In his previous role as the Executive Director of Global Resource Development at the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee’s (JDC) Gideon launched a historic $100 million emergency campaign for Jews in Ukraine and spearheaded a North American Federation partnership to advance the learning and success of Ethiopian-Israeli youngsters. Gideon also played a formative role in establishing the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village in Rwanda and served as the emergency disaster relief director in Haiti after the devastating 2010 earthquake.

Originally from Los Angeles and now living in Haifa, Gideon holds a B.A. in English Literature from UC Berkeley. He is a songwriter, and an unobjectively proud father to his seven-year-old daughter.