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Behind the Scenes
20
May

Signing Ceremony Launches Historic Collaboration with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem

By Inola Walston

On Monday, May 16, 2016 the Smithsonian Institution and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Albert Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity.  The Smithsonian and Hebrew University will leverage this significant Einstein anniversary to collaborate on projects, produced by the Smithsonian Science Education Center, that employ the resources of the Smithsonian Institution and the Albert Einstein Archives to make science, technology, engineering and mathematics more accessible and appealing to a younger generation to prepare them to meet contemporary global challenges as scientifically literate global citizens.

The MOU signing ceremony featured a plethora of VIP speakers including dignitaries representing the Canadian Friends of Hebrew University, the American Friends of Hebrew University and His Excellency Ron Dermer, the Ambassador of Israel to the United States.

This event publicly launched the historic and direct collaboration between the Smithsonian Science Education Center and the Hebrew University’s Einstein Legacy Project.  The Smithsonian Institution and the Smithsonian Science Education Center wish to thank everyone who participated in and attended the ceremony.

 

Smithsonian Science Education Center Director, Dr. Carol O’Donnell speaking at Memorandum of Understanding Signing Ceremony on May 16, 2016

 Smithsonian Science Education Center Director, Dr. Carol O’Donnell speaking at Memorandum of Understanding Signing Ceremony on May 16, 2016

 

Smithsonian Institution Secretary, Dr. David J. Skorton and Hebrew University of Jerusalem President, Professor Menahem Ben-Sasson signing historic MOU

Smithsonian Institution Secretary, Dr. David J. Skorton and Hebrew University of Jerusalem President, Professor Menahem Ben-Sasson signing historic MOU

 

Dr. Skorton and Professor Ben-Sasson

Dr. Skorton and Professor Ben-Sasson

 

Dr. Skorton, His Excellency Ron Dermer Ambassador of Israel to the United States and Professor Ben-Sasson

Dr. Skorton, His Excellency Ron Dermer Ambassador of Israel to the United States and Professor Ben-Sasson

 

Speakers and VIPs from left to right: Dr. Carol O’Donnell, Mr. Jeff Martin, Ms. Beth McCoy, Mr. Dan Schlessinger, Dr. David Skorton, Ambassador Ron Dermer, Professor Menahem Ben-Sasson, Mr. Murray Palay, Mr. Rami Kleinmann and Mr. Elan Divon

Speakers and VIPs from left to right: Dr. Carol O’Donnell, Mr. Jeff Martin, Ms. Beth McCoy, Mr. Dan Schlessinger, Dr. David Skorton, Ambassador Ron Dermer, Professor Menahem Ben-Sasson, Mr. Murray Palay, Mr. Rami Kleinmann and Mr. Elan Divon

Related Tags

Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Albert Einstein Archives

About the Author

Inola Walston
Assistant Division Director of Advancement and Partnerships

Inola Walston is the Assistant Division Director of Advancement and Partnerships for SSEC. Inola has nearly 30 years of fundraising and non-profit experience. As the Assistant Division Director for Advancement and Partnerships, Inola composes and drafts detailed proposals and correspondence to donors and prospects; prepares reports and marketing materials; participates in cultivation, solicitation and stewardship activities; and assists in the planning, management, and execution of special events and educational experiences to maintain donor engagement. Prior to joining the Smithsonian, Inola was the Organizational Advancement Officer for the Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED), an economic development non-profit organization in Washington, DC. While at CFED, Inola was primarily responsible for a variety of grants management and fundraising activities such as grant writing, reporting, stewardship, and prospect research. Over her professional career, Inola has been employed at such venerable organizations as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, where she helped to raise funding during the museum’s capital campaign. Ms. Walston earned her BS in Interior Design from Louisiana State University.