Ashland University Hosts Visit from Ambassador Dani Dayan

Ambassador Dani Dayan, Consul General of Israel in New York, visited the Ashland University campus on the morning of March 14 to meet with a group of invited individuals.Dayan had breakfast with members of the AU Board of Trustees and community members as well as a number of AU faculty, staff and students. 

Following the breakfast, Dayan spoke on “Israel and the Middle East Today: A Diplomat’s View” in the Ashbrook Center.Dayan was in Ohio and made his first official visit to Cleveland earlier this week with stops in Lyndhurst and at a “Unite with Israel” rally on March 13 at B’nai Jeshurun Congregation in Pepper Pike. 

Dayan officially assumed the post of Consul General of Israel in New York in August 2016. As Consul General, he represents the State of Israel to communities throughout New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Delaware.

Dayan has a long time reputation as an Israeli public figure, lecturer and entrepreneur enjoying wide support and appreciation from all sides of the Israeli political spectrum. His nomination by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was publicly welcomed by the Israeli opposition.

Dayan was chairman of the Council of Jewish Communities in Judea and Samaria from July 2007 until January 2013. He was instrumental in pushing through multiple reforms and policy changes to strengthen the image of the organization and advocate on behalf of its 400,000 citizens. He served for two additional years as the Council's Chief Foreign Envoy. His role included advocacy trips to major seats of government worldwide and regular meetings with foreign diplomats and journalists to explain the facts on the ground.

Dayan has been a frequent commentator in the international press and was regularly called upon to participate in public debates and panels at major conferences and universities. He was featured in the New York Times, Boston Globe, The Guardian, CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera and more.He began his professional career as an entrepreneur and businessman, founding Elad Systems in 1982 at the age of 26. He served for several years as CEO and later as Chairman of the Board. Elad Systems specializes in the development, integration and maintenance of sophisticated information systems, outsourcing and facility management for a wide range of large public and private organizations. 

When Dayan sold his interests in the firm in 2005, Elad Systems employed 500 IT professionals.From 1990-1992, Dayan served as the General Secretary of the Techiya political party. He was responsible for the movement's activities and public campaigns and was instrumental in negotiations that led to the party's inclusion in Prime Minister Yitzchak Shamir's 1990 coalition government.Before establishing his own information technology company, Dayan spent seven and a half years in the Israel Defense Forces serving in the elite MAMRAM computerized data processing center, attaining the rank of Major. 

Dayan holds a B.Sc. in Economics and Computer Sciences from Bar Ilan University and M.Sc. in Finance from Tel Aviv University. He is fluent in Hebrew, English and Spanish. He also served on the Israel Broadcasting Authority Board and the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Council. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1955, Dayan immigrated to Israel in 1971. He resides with his wife and daughter in the community of Maale Shomron in central Samaria.