Dr. Daniel Polisar is an American-Israeli academic, scholar, and educator specializing in political philosophy, Jewish thought, Middle Eastern politics, Zionist and Israeli history, and rhetoric. Born in the United States, he earned a BA in Politics from Princeton University and a PhD in Government from Harvard University. He is a co-founder and Executive Vice President of Shalem College in Jerusalem, Israel's first liberal arts college (founded in 2013), where he also serves on the faculty. Previously, he served as president of the Shalem Center from 2002 to 2013, holding earlier roles there as director of research, academic director, and editor-in-chief of its journal, Azure. Polisar founded and directed Peace Watch, a non-partisan Israeli organization that monitored compliance with the Oslo Accords by both Israeli and Palestinian parties, including leading the observer team during the 1996 Palestinian elections. His scholarly work explores themes of democracy, nationalism, and conflict resolution in the Middle East, drawing on his expertise in political science and government. As an Orthodox Jew with Ashkenazi heritage and Zionist perspective, his work integrates liberal arts education with Jewish values in Israel. He maintains financial ties to philanthropist Roger Hertog, who has provided funding support for Shalem initiatives. Polisar's career reflects a blend of American academic rigor and Israeli civic engagement, positioning him as a key figure in bridging Western liberal arts education with Israeli intellectual traditions and influencing networks promoting Zionist education and Middle East peace efforts. He has been involved in educational initiatives promoting liberal arts education in Israel, drawing on his American academic background, and often contributes to publications like Commentary magazine. His collaborations include co-founding efforts with Yoram Hazony.