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Current Fellows

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IGF ALUMNI - SEPTEMBER 2007

Class

Each class of Israel Government Fellows has consisted of outstanding young Jewish leaders from around the world. Click on a class to see details of past IGF participants.

Stephanie is from New Jersey in the US. She has a BA in Foreign Affairs, with a specialization in the Middle East, from the University of Virginia. She interned at the office of Virginia State Senator Creigh Deeds and worked on senatorial and congressional campaigns for the Charlottesville, Virginia Democratic Party. She was also an intern at the Tanenbaum Center's Program in Conflict Resolution. She is currently working in Government Relations at a Trade Organization in Washington DC. Stephanie Adickman USA Ministry of Justice The Department for International Agreements and Litigation	Victoria is from Buenos Aires, Argentina. After attaining her BA in International Relations from Universidad Del Salvador in Buenos Aires, she was a Madricha (leader) for a Taglit-Birthright group from Argentina and worked as the assistant to the Director of a sport management company. She is currently holds the position of Trade Officer in the Commercial Department of the Embassy of Israel in Buenos Aires. Victoria Akerman Argentina Ministry of Industry, Trade & Labor Foreign Trade Administration - South American Department	Mirjam is from Hungary. She has degrees in Tourism & hotel Management from the University of Veszprem and a Masters in International Relations from Corvinus University in Budapest. She has work experience in the hotel industry and is a licensed tour guide. Mirjam Alba Hungary Ministry of Industry, Trade & Labor Foreign Trade Administration - East Europe Department
Donna is from Los Angeles, California in the US. She has a degree in Sociology from the University of California in Los Angeles and work experience at an entertainment company in the Business & Legal Affairs Department and as an intern at the office of the Vice-Mayor of Beverley Hills. Donna is currently the director of Academic Affairs at the Israeli Consulate in L.A Donna Benji USA Prime Minister's Office Israel's Anti Drug Authority	Esther is from Tucson, Arizona, in the US. She has a BA in Law & Society from the American University in Washington, DC. She has extensive internship experience in DC, including at the Institute on Religion and Public Policy, the National Abortion Federation and the office of Senator Barbara A. Mikulski. Esther is currently pursuing a law degree at the University of Arizona. Esther Brilliant USA Ministry of Justice Coordination of the Battle Against Trafficking in Persons	Daniel is from London in the UK. He has a BA in International Relations, University of Birmingham and wrote his dissertation on Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. At university he was a top 10 speaker at the Debating Society competition and a contributor to the university newspaper. He is currently studying for a Masters in Modern Jewish Studies at Oxford University and plans to return to Israel to work in the political field or in public policy. Daniel Easterman UK Ministry of Industry, Trade & Labor Foreign Trade Administration - South American and Africa Department
Shayna is from Los Angeles, California in the US. She has a BA in Communication and Political Science from the University of Southern California and a range of work experience in the media, interning at the Fox and Turner Broadcasting Companies. She is currently Project Manager at Telescope Participation Media and a Masters Candidate at the University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication in the field of Communication Management. Shayna Fensten USA Ministry of Tourism Marketing Department	Zev is from Chicago, Illinois in the US. He has a degree in Law and Economics from the University of Maryland, where he was also involved with the Israel Public Affairs Committee. Before coming to Israel to take part in the IGF program he interned in the office of Senator Joe Lieberman in Washington DC. Zev Geller USA Ministry of Health Healthy Israel 2020 Administration	Talia is from London in the UK. She has a degree in Politics and International Relations from the University of Manchester. Before participating in the IGF program she interned at Amnesty International. Talia Hershkorn UK Prime Minister Office Civic Service Administration
Talia was born in Israel but has moved back and forth between there and Florida throughout her life. She graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a BA in Business Marketing and had work experience in both Florida, as an Israel Advocacy Intern for Hillel, and in Israel where she interned at Bank Hapoalim in Strategic Planning/Media Marketing, before starting the IGF program. She now lives in Israel and works at the women’s magazine, La’isha, as Manager of Sales in the fashion department. Talia Komorov USA Prime Minister's Office Special Coordinator for Public Diplomacy	Zara is from Ohio in the US. She has degrees in both Philosophy and International Studies from Ohio State University. During her time as a student she worked as a research assistant at the Mershon Center for International Security Studies and was an activist with AIPAC on campus. She also has internship experience at the Emnbassy of Israel in Washington, DC. Zara is currently perusing a Law degree in Harvard. Zara Lockshin USA Ministry of Foreign Affairs Internet Resource Officer, MFA Media and Public Affairs Division	Sharon is from the Gold Coast, Australia. She has a First Class Honors Degree in International Relations from Bond University and was active in the Jewish community as a board member of both the Queensland Zionist Council (QZC) and Magen David Adom Queensland. She is currently working in the family business as well as part-time in the QZC office and pursuing dance teacher qualifications. Sharon Malecki Australia Ministry of Immigrant Absorption Absorption advisor
Rebecca Mandel USA Prime Minister's Office Government Press Office	Diane is from Los Angeles, California in the US. She has a BA in Political Science, Middle East Studies, Hebrew Language & Literature from the University of California. During her studies she was President of the San Diego Israel Alliance and Campus Relations Coordinator for AIPAC. As well as her IGF experience, she has interned at the Jerusalem Post and the Israel Center for Jewish Pluralism. She made aliyah in 2008 and is currently working as a researcher with the Jerusalem-based organization NGO Monitor. Diane Meskin USA Ministry of Immigrant Absorption Absorption advisor	Gil is from Teaneck, New Jersey in the US. He has degrees from Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary in Political Science and Jewish History respectively. He was selected as one of 39 national Counterterrorism Fellows at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies in Washington, DC and also has varied internship experience - including for the TV interview show, the Charlie Rose Show; in the office of Assemblywoman Loretta Weinberg in New Jersey; and for a public relations company in New York. Gil Schwartz USA Ministry of Industry, Trade & Labor Foreign Trade Administration – North European Desk
Karen is from Switzerland. She has Masters degrees in Political Science and Public Communications - from the University of Lausanne, Switzerland and the University of Westminster, the UK, respectively. She worked for three years in the communications field, in both the public and private sector, before coming to Israel to participate in the IGF program. She is now working in the public relations department of the Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations in Geneva. Karen Smadja Switzerland Ministry of Industry, Trade & Labor Foreign Trade Administration – Multilateral Department	Born in Chicago, Illinois, USA, Eli graduated with Highest Distinction from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he studied Political Science, Hebrew and Arabic. While on campus, Eli led all facets of pro-Israel activity, working with a wide variety of local and national organizations. Formerly an active member of Habonim Dror, Eli has led a number of trips in Israel, including high school and Taglit-Birthright Israel groups. He is currently Assistant Director of the American Jewish Committee, Washington DC Chapter. Eli Wald USA Ministry of Foreign Affairs Department of Public Diplomacy	Samuel is from Kentucky in the US. He has a BA in Economics from the Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, where he also studied Biblical Hebrew and Modern Israel. Samuel Wecker USA Ministry of Industry, Trade & Labor Chief Scientist
Jodie is from London in the UK. She has a degree in Law from the University of Birmingham and work experience with a law firm in London. Jodie Zitren UK Ministry of Industry, Trade & Labor Legal Advisor's Office- International Affairs