TAU Board of Governors

Greetings from Robert Goldberg
Chairman of TAU's Board of Governors

This extraordinary university entered my life just as I was relinquishing some of my duties as a bank president in Cleveland, Ohio, finishing my term as chairman of the United Jewish Communities (UJC), and looking for a new place to make a contribution. The association seemed fated — my apartment in Israel, a long-time second home, was just a short walk from the campus.

After my first working visits to the university, I felt a bit overwhelmed. So many bright, determined students rushing purposefully in every direction. So many distinguished faculty members representing an impressive spectrum of studies. So many achievements accumulated in just 50 years. Like any awestruck, bewildered freshman, I wondered how I would fit in and how I could make my mark.

The first, immediate objective is to address the fiscal challenge that particularly threatens undergraduate enrollment. Another goal — a grandiose one I admit — is to position TAU at the head of a coalition of Israeli universities pursuing alternative energy sources. I see no institution more equipped for worldwide leadership in alternative energy research than ours. In addition to maintaining our preeminence in the sciences, we must also maintain our support of the arts, humanities, social sciences and every other academic area that makes our university great.

To meet these ambitious goals and others, I have many superb allies: our board, faculty and our students.

My first year at TAU has been exhilarating. Like many freshmen, I feel fortunate to be part of the school, and I look forward to what I will learn next.

Robert Goldberg
Chairman, Board of Governors