Faculty 

​Prof. Moran Yarchi - the Head of the Public Diplomacy Program

Moran Yarchi is the Head of the Digital Influence & Perceptions specialization at the Sammy Ofer School of Communications, the Head of the Public Diplomacy program, a Senior fellow at the Abba Eban Institute for International Diplomacy, and a Senior Researcher at the Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT) at Reichman University, Israel. 

Her main fields of research are political communication, public diplomacy, media coverage of conflicts and terrorism, and new media. Integrating theories from communication studies, political science and international relations, Moran’s studies investigate the ability of political actors to promote their messages through the media. Moran’s studies granted her with various awards and scholarships including the: Nina Wain's Prize for public and international communication in 2012, the Inbar fund scholarship in 2013, the Hecht Prize in 2012-3, the ICA’s annual conference Mass Communication Division's top paper award 2014, the NCA’s annual conference Mass Communication Division's top paper award 2015, and the ICA’s annual conference political Communication Division's top paper award 2019.

Ambassador Mark Regev - chairman of the Abba Eban Institute for International Diplomacy at Reichman University.

Before joining the Institute, Amb. Regev was the Prime Minister’s Senior Advisor for Foreign Affairs and International Communications between 2020-2021. Prior to this appointment, he served as Israel’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom from 2016-2020, and as the Prime Minister’s Advisor and International Spokesperson from 2007-2016. Servingunder two prime ministers during this tenure, Regev became one of Israel’s most prominent voices in the English-speaking world. A veteran diplomat, Ambassador Regev rose through the ranks of Israel’s diplomatic corps, serving as Vice Consul in Hong Kong (1991-93), First Secretary in Beijing (1993-96), Counsellor in Washington DC (1999-2004), and then as the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem (2004-2007). Ambassador Regev graduated from the University of Melbourne with a BA in Political Science and Modern History. He also holds an MA in Political Science from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, as well as a MSc in Management from Boston University.

Brigadier General Ronen Manelis -  distinguished former officer in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), with extensive experience in intelligence, strategic communication, and public diplomacy.

Born in Jerusalem in 1979 and raised in Beit Shemesh, he enlisted in the IDF in 1997 and served in various key roles over his military career. Manelis held multiple intelligence and leadership positions, including Intelligence Officer for the Paratroopers Brigade during the South Lebanon conflict, Head Intelligence Officer for the Samaria Regional Brigade, Chief Intelligence Officer of the Gaza Division, and Head of the Lebanon Branch in the Northern Command. From 2015 to 2017, he served as Assistant to the IDF Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot. In May 2017, he was appointed IDF Spokesperson and promoted to the rank of Brigadier General, serving in this critical role until September 2019. In this capacity, he was responsible for overseeing the military's public communication strategy during a dynamic and complex period. Manelis holds a bachelor’s degree in History from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a master’s degree in Political Science from Tel Aviv University. Following his military career, Manelis continued to contribute to public service. In 2020, he joined a task force managing the COVID-19 response in Bnei Brak and later served briefly as the Director-General of the Ministry of Strategic Affairs. Since 2022, he has been a commentator and presenter with "Kan," Israel's public broadcasting corporation.

Goor Tsalalyachin - Executive Director of the Abba Eban Institute for Diplomacy & Foreign Relations at Reichman University.

In this capacity, he oversees all activities of the institute and leads its training programmes. He lectures on Intelligence, Diplomacy & National Security, as well as on Wargaming in a Changing Middle East, bringing theoretical and practical insights from his professional experience to a diverse cohort of local and international students. Previously, he led Strategic Wargaming for the IDF General Staff, designing and facilitating high-level war-games that addressed critical national security challenges and tackled complexity and uncertainty in decision-making. Earlier in his career, he served in advisory positions as staff member to the Israeli Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence. He also held fellowships at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), and the Henry Jackson Society in London, as well as at the Institute for Policy and Strategy (IPS) in Israel, where he contributed to the Herzliya Conference. In the earlier stages of his career, he worked as a radio and television journalist (GLZ Radio, Channel 1, and Channel 10 News), reporting on defence, diplomacy, and geopolitics during significant historical events. An alumnus of both Reichman University (then IDC Herzliya) and King’s College London, he earned his BA in Government Studies with a focus on Counter-Terrorism and Homeland Security from the Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy and Strategy; and earned his MA (Merit) in Intelligence & International Security from the Department of War Studies at King’s College London, where he pursued further academic research focusing on intelligence and strategy. He is the recipient of the Chevening Scholarship, as well as other awards and recognitions.Yael Hay - Executive Director of RiseAppYael brings over a decade of experience in international business development and strategic management, coupled with an extensive academic background in Public Diplomacy and Political Communication. Currently pursuing a PhD at Haifa University, she holds an M.A. in Government and a B.A. in Communication from Reichman University, both with Magna Cum Laude honors. Her diverse career spans roles such as: Lecturer, International Business Development Manager at MAYA Group, Manager of the Public Diplomacy Program honors program, Attaché at the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Operation Manager at the Prime Minister's Office. This unique combination of theoretical knowledge and practical experience makes Yael a standout professional in her field.

Johanna Sarfati - Coordinator for the Public Diplomacy Program and also a member of the founding team of the RiseApp initiative.

Born and raised in France, Johanna earned a bachelor's degree in law from Paris-Panthéon-Assas University and a Master's in Government with a specialization in Counter-Terrorism from Reichman University. She has worked in private sector intelligence and, following October 7th, was appointed Head of the French Desk for the ACT-IL organization. In this role, Johanna built communities across Europe, led a team of over 100 volunteers, and established partnerships with leading global organizations. She also developed and implemented strategic initiatives and oversaw collaborations with content creators.In her current role as Coordinator for the Public Diplomacy Program, Johanna collaborates closely with Prof. Moran Yarchi, the Head of the Program, to organize events, workshops, and guest lectures that inspire and engage students. She oversees the organization and progress of students’ internship tasks at RiseApp, ensuring their development and success. Additionally, Johanna manages and creates all social media content for the program, strategically expanding networks and enhancing its visibility by showcasing achievements, initiatives, and opportunities through compelling and engaging online content