Roni Krinsky Named President of American Friends of Tel Aviv University
Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Accomplished development executive with major gifts expertise is TAU alumna

American Friends of Tel Aviv University (AFTAU) has selected Roni Krinsky, an experienced development executive recognized for her innovative methods of donor engagement, to lead the organization.

Prior to her appointment as president, Ms. Krinsky served as vice president of AFTAU's Northeast Region for two years.  In that capacity, she substantially increased fundraising in the region.

"Roni brings superb management, problem-solving and motivational skills to the presidency," says William F. Cohen, AFTAU's chairman of the board.  "Her passion for education and her dedication to our mission make her the ideal executive to lead AFTAU."

Ms. Krinsky, who was born in Tel Aviv and holds two degrees from TAU, has been a New Yorker for nearly a decade.  Before joining the American Friends organization, she was a campaign director of UJAFederation of New York, supervising the Real Estate and Allied Trades Division among others.  There, she maintained ongoing relationships with more than 1,500 donors, and established her reputation in the areas of major gifts and capital gifts.

Her involvement in Jewish communal work also includes more than 15 years in the field of Jewish education in Ontario, Canada.

With almost 30,000 students, Tel Aviv University is Israel’s largest and most comprehensive center of higher learning. 150 leading academic and corporate institutions from every corner of the globe conduct joint programs on campus. The university is one of Israel’s most important research centers, engaged in more than 5,000 innovative projects in both classic disciplines and cutting-edge fields from bioinformatics to nanotechnology.

AFTAU raises funds in support of the university, and sponsors educational, cultural and social events throughout the United States.

"It's a privilege to be leading this organization nationally," Ms. Krinsky says.  "Our supporters are really remarkable — they're well-educated, they have a sophisticated worldview, and their dedication inspires me every day."