JERUSALEM (JTA) — Prof. Asher Cohen has been elected the new president of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Cohen served for the last five years as rector of the university. He succeeds Prof. Menahem Ben-Sasson, who led the University for the last eight years. He will assume the position in September.
As rector, Cohen recruited top researchers from Israel and abroad, opened new academic programs, worked to refresh the university’s curricula and worked with the Student Union to develop in-depth processes for improving the education of university students, the university said in a statement announcing Cohen’s election.
Cohen is a graduate of Hebrew University, receiving his bachelor’s degree in economics and his master’s degree in psychology from the university. He completed doctoral and post doctoral studies at the University of Oregon and was a senior lecturer at Indiana University before returning to Hebrew University to teach in its Department of Psychology, eventually heading the department from 2008-2012.
At the request of Cohen and Chairman of the Board of Governors Michael Federmann, the Board of Governors has appointed Ben-Sasson as Chancellor of the Hebrew University, a position in which he will work with donors, supporters and government officials.
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