Mordecai Nisan (1934–2017) was Emeritus Professor of Education and Psychology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He was laid to rest on Friday, February 17, 2017 (21 Shvat, 5777).
Professor Nisan was one of the founders of the Mandel Leadership Institute in Jerusalem, and one of its core members over the years. Among other roles, he was one of the founders of the Mandel Jerusalem Fellows Program, served as director of the Mandel School for Educational Leadership, was the academic director of the Mandel Leadership Institute and the Mandel Foundation–Israel, and was a member of key committees of both institutions.
Professor Nisan founded and led the Mandel Program for Youth Leadership, the Mandel IDF Educational Leadership Program, the Mandel Program for Young Researchers, and the Mandel Scholars in Education Program. He also served as head of the school of education at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, was a member of Israel’s Council for Higher Education, and served on many public commissions and on the editorial boards of numerous scientific journals.
Professor Nisan was a disciple of Professor Lawrence Kohlberg at the University of Chicago, and authored tens of articles and many book chapters in the literature of developmental and educational psychology.
He conducted research at the universities of Harvard, Oxford, Stanford, and Melbourne, at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin, at the Max Planck Institute for Psychological Research in Munich, and at the Carnegie Institution in Palo Alto.
His last book, on moral identity and limited morality, is a joint publication of the Mandel Foundation and Keter Books.
Professor Nisan’s students and colleagues send their heartfelt condolences to his family.
Memorial Event for Professor Mordecai Nisan
