Faculty and Staff - Management (B.A)

Iris Yaffe CV

I received a bachelor’s degree in Hebrew Literature and Educational Counseling, and a master’s degree in Organizational Behavior, both from Tel Aviv University. Having completed my first academic degree, I worked as a teacher and a coordinator in junior high school. During my master’s degree studies and after graduation, I worked as an organizational advisor in different organizations, and was subsequently appointed as a Human Resources manager for Paz Company.  

A doctorate degree in Medical Education was awarded to me by the Technion. My research project based on the longitudinal approach, examined the effects of student-centered teaching on the student's attitudes and behavior. The study was guided by Prof. Rosalie Ber and Prof. Avi Rotschild (The School of Medicine) and Prof. Michael Moore (The School of Education in Science and Technology). 

I started working at Hadassah Academic College in 2007 as a lecturer in the Department of Management of Service Organizations since its opening. I have always affirmed the importance of optimizing the effectiveness of teaching, i.e. the development of course contents, teaching methods and evaluation techniques. Over the years of my work at the College, I have been sharing teaching materials, tests and curricula with my colleagues in the department. In addition, until the year 2020, I served as an academic advisor to all students in the Department of Management of Service Organizations (N=880).

During the years of my work at the College, I have developed courses in different subjects, either independently, or in collaboration with colleagues (For example, Research Methods, Academic Literacy). Another course that I have built from the ground up and continued to develop with Dr. Lior Naomi Schneider is 'Patient Caregiver Relationship'. The course, is based on an innovative teaching method that we developed in the framework of the ASSET project we participate in. It built on on the 9-step Student-Guided learning (SLG)] model, combining active teaching and continuous and formative assessment. 

In my teaching, I put a big emphasis in empowering the students. In this respect, I view a student-lecturer academic interaction as a model for professional performance of students in his/her future career and conduct. I believe, that being guided by the motto “practice what you preach”, one can teach a great variety of moral, emotional and behavioral values. I apply this student – centered approach in different modes of college interaction: teaching, personal conversations, private lessons and tutorials.

In addition to teaching and academic counseling, I am very involved in the activities of the department and the college, including being the chair of the college's academic faculty organization. At the same time, I teach 'Nursing Communication' at the 'Dina' Nursing School (Rabin-Medical Center) and 'Pharmacy Communication' at the 'Faculty of Pharmacy' (Hebrew University). In addition, over the years, I have conducted numerous assessment and education studies for various organizations, which are based on quantitative and qualitative research methods. In some organizations, I guide teams in the research process as part of their professional development (for example, Tel HaShomer Hospital -Cardiac Institute; Cllalit Health Services; Experimental School - Hadassah Hospital and more).

Alon Maharshak, PhD, serves as the head of the Human Resource Management Program within the Management Department at Hadassa Academic College. With a distinguished career marked by extensive experience in HR management, Alon specializes in behavioral and organizational research and development. Holding a PhD in cognitive science, his expertise delves into the psychological aspects of decision-making and influence models.
Throughout his professional journey, Alon has held pivotal leadership and professional roles at esteemed institutions. Notably, at the Behavioral Science Department of the Israel Prime Minister's Office, he led initiatives in organization performance appraisal, conducted research and development on selection and evaluation tools, and provided counseling services to enhance organizational processes and support executives. Moreover, Alon has garnered valuable insights managing psychology research departments within artificial intelligence companies, focusing on the convergence of human psychology and technological advancements. Later, Alon contributed significantly at the Israel National Institute for Testing and Evaluation, pioneering innovative methodologies for assessing cognitive abilities and psychological traits, while also sharing his expertise through academic courses at SCE.
In each capacity, Alon has established comprehensive professional guidance and training systems tailored to the specific domains. His approach to work is characterized by professionalism, employing a multidisciplinary perspective, fostering integration, and cultivating strong partnerships to deliver impactful results.