Orit Ichilov is a professor of Sociology of Education, chaired the Department of Educational Sciences at Tel-Aviv University, and was chair of the Ph.D. program. She was Israel’s national representative and chief investigator in the IEA Civic Education International Study, was a fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington D.C., and is currently a visiting scholar at Oxford University.

She has authored/edited seven books. Her research has focused on political socialization and citizenship education. Included are perceptions of war and peace of Arab and Jewish youngsters; citizenship orientations of new immigrants from the former Soviet Union, of students in academic and vocational schools, of youngsters representing diverse ethnic groups, and of city and kibbutz youth; as well as patterns of political learning and citizenship education under conflict.

She has been an ISPP member since 1985. She has served as Vice President, Governing Council member, and has been a member in and chaired various committees. Additional public service includes serving as an elected member of the City Council of Tel-Aviv -Jaffa (1993-1998), working to advance equality of educational opportunities and education for democracy and chairing a sub-committee on education advising the Israeli Ministry of Justice on the implementation of legislation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (2000-2003).

“I am greatly impressed by the immense variety of socializing contexts and environments in which youngsters grow up today, and by the vital role of contexts in shaping the political world of youngsters. ISPP provided me with an environment of stimulating and inspiring intellectual exchange. I’m honored to be nominated for President. Should I be elected, I will closely work with ISPP officers and institutions to broaden the membership base, attracting scholars from a greater variety of countries. This may require locating funds to assist practitioners and scholars from newly democratizing countries, and non-Western countries to join ISPP and to attend the Annual Meetings."