Dr. Rena Shimoni was raised in Canada and came to Israel at the age of 19. She completed a B.A. and Post Graduate Certificate (The Schwartz Program) in Child and Family Studies at the Hebrew University. She has a M.Sc. in social work and social policy from Oxford University, UK, and a doctorate in Educational Policy and Administration from the University of Calgary, Canada.  Rena has held a number of positions in post secondary education in Israel and Canada, as lecturer in Social Work and Early Education, and has held senior administrative posts, such as Dean of Health and Human Service Programs, and Dean of Research at Bow Valley College in Canada.  She has published two textbooks, and numerous articles related to early education, family studies, multiculturalism, and post secondary education. She has also been an active volunteer in the nonprofit sector, as a committee member or board member in organizations such as Jewish Family Services, and the United Way. Rena and her husband took early retirement from their positions in Canada to return to Israel in 2011, and is currently freelancing as a consultant, and volunteering. Rena has three daughters, and two grandsons.  She can be reached at shimoni@shaw.ca