The Search Committee of Tel Aviv University (TAU) has unanimously recommended the appointment of Dafna Meitar-Nechmad as the next Chair of the TAU Board of Governors (BOG). After serving for three years as Co-Chair of the TAU Global Campaign, Meitar-Nechmad will replace Professor Jacob A. Frenkel, who will be completing two four-year terms as Chair at the next Board meeting. Her appointment is subject to the Board Governors’ ratification.

This new appointment follows a series of eleven women appointed to leading positions at TAU over the past year, including VP for International Academic Relations and the Deans of the Faculties of Exact Sciences, Humanities, and Innovative Learning.

Meitar-Nechmad is an alumna of TAU and a former partner in the Meitar Law Offices. No longer a practicing lawyer, she is a social investor with extensive philanthropic experience. Among her many public roles, she serves on the Boards of JFN — Jewish Funders Network and the Metropolitan Opera of New York, and she heads the Zvi and Ofra Meitar Family Fund, which supports a wide range of cultural and educational organizations and projects both in Israel and overseas, with TAU as its major beneficiary.

In addition, Meitar-Nechmad is a founding member of the Institute for Law and Philanthropy at TAU’s Faculty of Law which researches and promotes philanthropy in Israel, aiming to advance justice and equality in Israeli society and serves on its Management Committees. She is also a member of Committed to Give, an initiative for promoting philanthropy in Israel.

The Search Committee was headed by Professor Itamar Rabinovich, former President of TAU. In its recommendation, the Committee members noted that they had been greatly impressed by Meitar-Nechmad’s leadership capabilities, her record as a leader of TAU’s Global Campaign, her extensive experience in the world of philanthropy and fundraising, and her commitment and dedication to the advancement of TAU.

It should be noted that TAU’s Board of Governors holds supervisory and control functions, and is mandated to help the University raise funds for further development.

Meitar-Nechmad thanked the Search Committee for recommending to elect her and said, “As a woman, a social investor, and an alumna of TAU, it will be a great honor and privilege for me to head its Board of Governors. The past decade has seen substantial development at TAU, in research, education, and contribution to the community, and I am certain that together we can keep up this momentum, expand the sources of funding, and open TAU’s gates to new target populations from both Israel and abroad.”

TAU President Professor Ariel Porat congratulated Meitar-Nechmad and said, “I am very happy that the Search Committee recommended her for such an important role at our University. Dafna has a great deal of experience in social and philanthropic activities and I have no doubt that with her support we will be able to continue the advancement of TAU’s excellence in many areas. Having seen Dafna’s activities successfully benefit TAU, and recognizing her social commitment and inspiring personality, I look forward to working together for the further consolidation of TAU’s academic, social, and economic standing and its contribution to society.”

Tel Aviv University (TAU) is a globally top-ranked university, a leading research institution, and a center of discovery. As Israel’s largest public institution of higher learning, TAU is home to 30,000 students, including 2,100 international students from over 100 countries. The University encompasses nine faculties, 35 schools, 400 labs, and has 17 affiliated hospitals in its network.

American Friends of Tel Aviv University (AFTAU) raises awareness and funds to support Tel Aviv University and advance its three-part mission of education, research, and community building in the U.S. AFTAU shares the innovative work the University contributes to the world and builds bridges between the U.S. and Israel.