AICE Visiting Israel Professors

Announcement for 2009-2010


The nonprofit American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise (AICE) is now accepting applications from Israeli faculty interested in being considered as Visiting Israel Professors in the United States for the 2009-10 academic year. Thanks to the generous support of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, AICE will select at least 20 major American universities to receive grants to appoint Schusterman Visiting Israel Professors. We anticipate funding from other foundations to support several additional visiting professors. Each university will receive $50,000 toward the salary and benefits of the Visiting Israel Professor and up to $10,000 to reimburse the scholar’s travel expenses.

The aim of the program is to present American students with a broad understanding of Israel's history, society, politics, culture and relations with its neighbors and the broader international community. Applicants should hold a Ph.D., have a distinguished publishing record and be prepared to spend a full academic year in residence at the U.S. institution. AICE Visiting Israel Professors should also be fluent in English and engaging teachers as they will be expected to teach four courses, at least two on topics relating to modern Israel.

The definition of Israel studies varies among the campuses and positions, but should be considered flexible. The greatest demand is usually in the fields of history and political science; however, scholars in other fields of social science, humanities (literature, film, art, dance, music, etc.), as well as law and education will also be considered

Visitors will be asked to participate in two conferences, one in the fall and a second in the spring to discuss various issues relating to promoting Israel studies in the United States. They should also be prepared to spend time and work with students and faculty outside of their classes and to engage in public education about Israel through the media and by speaking on campus and in the community.

AICE is currently supporting scholars at more than 20 universities including American University, Stanford, Florida, George Washington University, Arizona, Rutgers, Notre Dame, Berkeley, Minnesota, Texas, Wisconsin and Harvard. Some of these institutions may receive grants for 09-10, but other universities will be added to this list.

AICE recommends scholars to the universities, but the institutions ultimately make hiring decisions and negotiate salary and benefits. Roundtrip travel expenses to and from Israel, as well as other travel expenses related to the position, will be covered by the program.

In addition to full-year positions, we may have a limited number of positions available for one semester.

AICE will not fund a professor for more than two years. The purpose of the program is to facilitate an exchange of knowledge, to build international cooperation and to promote the field of Israel studies. To ensure that the exchange objectives of the program are respected, and the impact on the brain drain from Israel is minimized, professors are expected to return to Israel upon completion of their visit.

Interviews will be conducted in Israel at the end of October 2008.

To be considered as an AICE Visiting Professor, please send a CV and cover letter that includes courses you would like to teach and a sample syllabus (that may be published on our web site). Materials should be submitted by September 1, 2008, to:

Mitchell G. Bard, Ph.D.
Executive Director
American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise (AICE)
2810 Blaine Dr.
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
Tel. 301-565-3918
Fax. 301-587-9056
Email: mitchellbard@gmail.com
Web: Jewish Virtual Library (http://www.JewishVirtualLibrary.org)