Liron Shoham
Executive Director
Liron joined IATF as Communications Manager in 2012, became Associate Director in 2016, and Executive Director in 2019. Today, Liron oversees implementation of IATF vision, mission, and strategic expansion as it becomes a trusted professional resource center on Arab society in Israel for growing numbers of major North American Jewish organizations. Prior, Liron was Director of Operations for the Harold Grinspoon Foundation's (HGF) New York office. This was her second role as Jewish professional; the first with American Friends for the Weizmann Institute of Science as part of Major Gifts and Foundation Relations. Born in Israel, raised in the US, Liron has a lifelong interest in cross-cultural cooperation and learning. She holds an MA in Conflict Resolution from Bradford University in England, a BA in Anthropology and Arts-Semiotics from Brown University, and is part of the 7th cohort of Schusterman Fellows. Liron lives in Long Island with her husband and daughter. Contact: [email protected].
U.S.
Erica Shaps (she/her)
Associate Director, U.S.
Erica Shaps is the Associate Director, U.S., at the Inter-Agency Task Force on Israeli Arab Issues (IATF). In this capacity, she develops educational programs, trainings, and resources pertaining to Arab citizens of Israel and Jewish-Arab relations within Israel for American Jewish organizations. Erica has consulted, written, and conducted research for diverse organizations in Israel and abroad. She worked as a Middle East Program Coordinator for Encounter where she planned programs to cultivate more informed and constructive Jewish leadership on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Previously, as an Entwine Fellow at the Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), Erica supported social mobility programs for underserved communities in Israel, including Arab citizens of Israel. Erica is a trained facilitator and mediator. She received her BA from Brandeis University in Islamic & Middle Eastern Studies and an MA from the Fletcher School at Tufts University in International Law and Diplomacy as a Wexner Fellow/Davidson Scholar. Contact: [email protected]
Miranda Hellmold Stone (they/them)
Programs and Operations Coordinator
Miranda Hellmold Stone joined the Inter-Agency Task Force on Israeli Arab Issues (IATF) in 2022. They support the development of IATF’s educational programs and materials and IATF’s operations. Previously, Miranda was a 2022 Gilda-Slifka Intern at the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute where they completed research for the Agunah Task Force. Other past internships include Los Angeles Review of Books and Persea Books. Their writing has appeared in New Voices Magazine and Los Angeles Review of Books, and a copy of an archival research project is in the Harvard Library’s Judaica Division. Miranda holds a B.A. in Jewish Studies (major) and History (minor) from Smith College. Contact: [email protected]
Hana Sloutski (she/her)
Communications Associate
Hana Sloutski joined IATF as Communications Associate in 2023. Previously, Hana was Alumni Communications Coordinator at the Braun School of Public Health, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Hana has over five years of experience at nonprofit organizations and in higher education event planning and project management. She holds an MA in Linguistics & Education from the Eastern State University of Humanities in Russia, and an MA in Folklore and Folk Studies from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. Born and raised in the Russian Far East, Hana has also lived in Georgia and Israel, which inspired her interest in cross-cultural communication, heritage preservation and conflict resolution. Hana recently relocated to Long Island with her husband and daughter, and in her free time she likes exploring local nature, knitting, and attending community events. Contact: [email protected]
Israel
Shahira Shalaby
Content Expert and Field Representative
Shahira joined the Inter-Agency Task Force on Israeli Arab Issues (IATF) in 2022 as Content Expert and Field Representative. In this role, she serves as a bridge between the civil society field in Israel and American Jewish communities and brings educational content to funders, educators, and Jewish communal professionals. She comes with decades of dynamic experience as a civil society and community leader dedicated to improving the lives of Arab citizens of Israel. Shahira is on the Haifa City Council and previously served as Haifa’s Deputy Mayor. She has held several key managerial roles at numerous social service organizations, including helping establish the Hiwar School for Alternative Education in Haifa. Previously, Shahira directed Shatil’s Shared Society Department for ten years and she co-founded Kayan, the first Palestinian feminist organization in Israel. She was on the faculty of the Mandel Center for Leadership in the North and managed its local leadership programs. Shahira holds an M.A. in Religious Studies and a B.A. in Social Work. She is a trained organizational consultant, group facilitator, and trainer specializing in dialogue, conflict, and conflict resolution. Contact: [email protected]
Michal Barak
Israel Representative
Michal joined the Inter-Agency Task Force on Israeli Arab Issues (IATF) as Israel Representative in 2023. Michal previously founded and directed the Unit for Diversity and Inclusion at Hebrew University. In that role, she led the university’s efforts to diversify its student body, faculty, and administrative staff, as well as to provide the conditions for every student to fulfill their potential. Additionally, Michal worked for many years to promote democratic values and shared society in Israel’s education system. She founded an educational NGO “A Different Lesson” and a women’s peace organization, “Women Wage Peace.” Michal remains active in organizations promoting shared society and democratic values. Michal has an LL.B. (Law) from Hebrew University and an M.A. in Linguistics from Rutgers University. Contact: [email protected]
Nour Dassouky
Program Associate
Nour comes from the social entrepreneurship eco-system where she founded and managed two education-related ventures, Al Hakavati and Baladi. Al Hakavati is a social venture focused on reviving Arab storytelling culture by empowering community members to tell their unique stories stemming from the Arab folklore and culture. Baladi is a social venture leveraging street stunts to promote youth at risk. Born in Jaffa, Nour completed her education at the Academic College of Tel Aviv–Yaffo, and holds a B.A. in Government and Society and an M.A. Family Studies. Contact: [email protected]