Friends of Jerusalem College of Technology (FJCT) has announced the appointment of Betsy Marantz as its new executive director. Marantz, who previously served as FJCT’s director of development, brings extensive experience to her role in fundraising, donor relations and nonprofit leadership.
With a proven track record in capital campaigns and building enduring partnerships, Marantz will lead FJCT’s efforts to advance the mission of Jerusalem College of Technology (JCT)—an Israeli academic institution renowned for its excellence in engineering, electro-optics, health sciences and business, as well as its critical role providing much of the talent leading Israel’s defense ecosystem.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Marantz has academic expertise and a deep commitment to Jewish education and nonprofit leadership. She holds master’s degrees in both nonprofit management and Jewish education and an A.B. in religion from Dartmouth College.
“It is an incredible honor to lead Friends of JCT at this historic moment,” Marantz said. “I am inspired daily by our students’ courage and brilliance, and by the unwavering commitment of our supporters to the Jewish future. Together, we will continue to ensure that JCT has the resources it needs to educate the leaders, innovators and protectors of Israel’s future.”
Established in 1969, JCT is the second-largest academic institution in Jerusalem and a national resource transforming Israel’s society and economy, and addressing some of the country’s most pressing challenges. A leader in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education, JCT uniquely bridges Torah study with academic excellence. Half of JCT’s students study engineering, including computer science, electro-optics, electronics and industrial engineering. JCT alumni have made outsized contributions to Israel’s defense sector. Alumni have been awarded numerous Israel Defense Prizes for leadership roles in creating critical defense technologies, including the recent Iron Beam laser-based defense system.
Marantz started at FJCT in mid-October 2023, about one week after the Hamas-led terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7. She describes her transition to the organization as “trial by war,” noting that her first days on the job were devoted to raising emergency funds to support JCT students called upon to serve in the IDF during a time of profound national crisis.
“On my very first day, I saw how urgently JCT’s work matters,” she said. “While Israel faces unprecedented threats on multiple fronts, JCT continues to stand at the center of the nation’s defense ecosystem, cultivating the minds behind Israel’s most advanced military technologies.”
The new Tal Campus for women at JCT, an over $100 million development project in the center of Jerusalem, is slated for completion in 2028 and is poised to provide increased opportunities for religious women to pursue a high-level STEM education and achieve quality employment in science and high-tech industries. This includes the opening of an industrial engineering and management track, a new nursing program for haredi women, a new pharmacy track and a business administration program in English. The College’s impact includes educating 12% of all women studying computer science in Israel, as well as JCT’s Selma Jelinek Nursing School, which ranks as the largest and top-rated nursing school in Israel.
The College’s expanding International English Speakers Program offers students the opportunity to obtain a prestigious academic degree, coupled with immersive Torah study. JCT’s 5,000 students hail from Israel and 38 other countries.
For more information about JCT and FJCT, visit www.friendsofjct.org.
