Faculty Launch Kalaniyot Chapter at USC
In response to the troubling rise in hostility toward Israeli scholars and students on U.S. campuses, Kalaniyot was founded in the aftermath of October 7 by faculty who recognized the need to expand their roles on campus.
Chapters now exist at MIT, Harvard Medical School, Columbia, Dartmouth, and the University of Pennsylvania. USC faculty have launched the university’s own Kalaniyot chapter, standing in solidarity with these schools and connecting faculty and students committed to promoting respectful discourse, academic collaboration, and support for Israeli scholars navigating increasingly challenging campus climates.
The organization is named Kalaniyot, the Hebrew word for poppy anemones (flower). In Israel, the red poppy/anemone symbolizes natural beauty, cultural pride, resilience, and remembrance of loss—while also carrying a hopeful message of renewal. The name represents the national umbrella organization uniting universities that support faculty-led initiatives. This initiative is dedicated to promoting and advancing academic excellence by strengthening ties with Israeli researchers while building a supportive campus community. As a faculty-led network, Kalaniyot focuses on restoring and advancing the contributions of scholars and students from all nationalities, religions, and ethnic backgrounds. Among its key initiatives, Kalaniyot provides prestigious fellowships to distinguished Israeli postdoctoral researchers and sabbatical scholars, enabling them to advance their work at U.S. universities while forming lasting and robust academic partnerships.
Kalaniyot Chapter members at USC are honored to join this growing academic community. Our mission is to advance a positive vision that makes a meaningful impact within academia and beyond. The Casden Institute, dedicated to fostering dialogue and deepening understanding of both Jewish identity in America and the broader American experience in a pluralistic society, is proud to support this initiative. As part of the inaugural Kalaniyot Chapter event at USC, the Institute has invited Israeli author Iddo Geffen to share insights from his recent book and his research in cognitive science.
USC faculty from across departments and schools are proud to launch the first Kalaniyot Chapter on the West Coast—also the first chapter led by women co-directors. This historic initiative reflects our shared commitment to advancing excellence, fostering inclusion, and strengthening global partnerships. The USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work has already pioneered the idea of collaboration and established Memorandum of Understanding with the following universities in Israel, which will be part of the Kalaniyot Chapter at USC: Tel Aviv University, Sapir College, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Leadership
- Director: Susie Hess, MSW, LCSW-IL, Associate Teaching Professor of Practicum Education, USC Suzanne Dworak Peck School of Social Work
- Co-Director: Dr. Hagit Arieli Chai, PhD, Hebrew Language Program Coordinator, Louchheim School for Judaic Studies at USC, HUC – JIR, Visiting Scholar at Casden Institute, USC
Board of Directors — USC Faculty
- USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
- Ruth Cislowski, MSW, MAJCS,Associate Professor
- Dr. Michel Sela-Amit, PhD, Clinical Associate Professor
- Dr. Michalle Mor Barak, PhD, Dean’s Professor of Social Work and Business; Professor of Social Work and Business, (Joint appointment with USC Marshall School of Business)
- Dr. Sara Schwartz, PhD, Assistant Professor of Social Work
- USC School of Dentistry
- Dr. Lisa Aziz-Zadeh, PhD, Associate Professor of Occupational Science, Psychology, and Neuroscience Graduate Program
- USC School of Cinematic Arts
- Robert L. Schiller, MFA, Professor of Cinematic Arts
- USC Marshall School of Business
- Dr. Cheryl Wakslak, PhD, Associate Professor of Management and Organization
- USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
- Dr. Vita Droutman, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychology
- Dr. Daphna Oyserman, PhD, Dean’s Professor of Psychology and Education
- Dr. Anna Krylov, PhD, USC Associates Chair in Natural Sciences and Professor of Chemistry
- Dr. Hanna Reisler, PhD, University Professor and Professor of Chemistry
- USC Viterbi School of Engineering
- Dr. Leana Golubchik, PhD, Stephen and Etta Varra Professor, and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science
- Dr. Alan Willner, PhD, Andrew & Erna Viterbi Professorial Chair, Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering (Joint Appointment with the Department of Physics and Astronomy in USC Dornsife)
We invite additional faculty members and student leaders to join this collaborative initiative with Israeli scholars, fostering dialogue, understanding, and support for the Jewish community on campus. Together, we can strengthen connections across campuses and create a more inclusive academic environment. To get involved contact:
Dr. Hagit Arieli Chai: arielich@usc.edu
Susie Hess: Susanhes@usc.edu
Together, we are excited to launch the Kalaniyot Chapter at USC, leading the way on the West Coast with a bold vision for collaboration, innovation, and impact. Fight On!
