U.S. Ambassador to Israel Visits Technion for the First Time

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Thomas R. Nides visited the Technion as part of a tour of Haifa. The ambassador arrived on campus via the new cable car and, following a short tour of the Technion’s David and Janet Polak Visitors Center, met with Technion President Professor Uri Sivan and other senior members of the Technion’s management.

“It’s a big honor to be here,” said Ambassador Nides at the meeting with President Sivan. “The Technion’s reputation precedes it. I first heard about the Technion when I was 14 – the fact that it was built before the country was founded, its extensive contribution to Israel’s development, and its role as the cradle of the Start-Up Nation. Moreover, the establishment of the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute in New York together with Cornell University generated a very positive attitude toward Israel and towards the Technion’s contribution to New York City’s economic development.”

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Thomas R. Nides (left) with Technion President Prof. Uri Sivan

The visit focused on research collaborations with partners in the U.S. and the importance of human diversity in academia – a subject close to the ambassador’s heart. President Sivan and Professor Adi Salzberg, VP for Diversity and Inclusion at the Technion, told the ambassador about the ways that the Technion is expanding diversity and promoting an inclusive and safe atmosphere for everyone on campus regardless of their social, national, religious, or gender identities.

President Uri Sivan emphasized the importance of opening the doors of the Technion to every talented young man and woman regardless of their financial situation. “With the help of the Friends of the Technion in Israel and around the world, the Technion offers students an extensive support network through special scholarships and loans, since we are committed to ensuring that no student will stop studying due to financial difficulties. The Technion is the leading university in Israel when it comes to providing student housing and we will continue building additional dormitories for our students.”

U.S. Ambassador Nides looking at the nano-bible at the David and Janet Polak Visitors Center

President Sivan also said that “in the distant past, our research collaborations mainly involved partners in the United States, but this changed when Israel joined European research programs. To expand the scope of our collaborations with American institutions, it is important to expand the U.S. – Israel Binational Science Foundation.”

Ambassador Nides holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Minnesota. He served as the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources and other senior positions in the public and business sectors. He was appointed to his current position at the end of 2021.

U.S. Ambassador Nides with the Technion’s management