50 Stories for 50 Years: Doron Shapir ‘12

To celebrate our 50th anniversary year during 2018/19, we collected stories and profiles of people and institutions that have helped us build our organization, which first began as one person's dream in 1968. We will feature one story per week on our blog. Please enjoy these “50 for 50” profiles featuring ASSIST's dedicated board members, dynamic staff, welcoming host families and enthusiastic ASSIST Scholars.

Doron Shapir '12
Israel, Loomis Chaffee School

My name is Doron Shapir. I am a member of the ASSIST Class of 2011-2012, and I came from my home in Haifa, Israel, to spend my ASSIST year at Loomis Chaffee School in Connecticut. That ASSIST year impacted the entire course of my life.

Because of ASSIST:
• I studied at one of the best schools in America and made friends from all over the world.

• Using the language skills and international experience I gained through my ASSIST year, I represented the Israeli Defense Forces in working with international organizations such as the United Nations and the Red Cross.

• Thanks to my military service and ASSIST year achievements, I got a full scholarship to study at Brandeis and completed both my bachelor's and master's degrees there.

• I now serve as a diplomat the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., and actively work to create stronger bridges between Israel, the United States, and the rest of the world.

Throughout this journey, the ASSIST community was always there for me. On many different occasions, I consulted with staff and fellow ASSIST Scholars. More than once, their advice enabled me to make a better decision, to successfully organize an event, or complete a new project.

ASSIST, therefore, is not just a one-year experience that ends in high school. Rather, ASSIST provides an opportunity to define one's own unique life path—while belonging to a community of Scholars and leaders who are determined to make this world a better place.

While I do not know for sure what I will be doing next, I am certain that the ASSIST experience and community will continue to play a significant role in my life and will help me achieve my diplomatic and political career goals.

About Doron:
As a teenager, Doron was involved in several youth leadership programs such as Seeds of Peace, ASSIST, and LEAD. He spent an ASSIST year at the Loomis Chaffee School in Connecticut, then returned to Israel to graduate from high school. After graduating, Doron completed both his M.A in International Economics and Finance and his B.A. in International and Global Studies at Brandeis University. He went on to serve as an officer in the Israeli Defense Forces. Doron now serves as the Director of Economic and Strategic Cooperation in the Israeli Embassy in the United States of America.