Betsy is a specialist on post-Soviet affairs, previously serving on the faculty of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

She is a past officer of the Jewish Federation/Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago. Dr. Gidwitz’s many years of service and accomplishments in the Chicago Federation included: Serving on theFederation Board from 1999-2008 and 2009-2010; Serving as Secretary from 2001-2005 and Vice Chair from 2005-2008 and as an officer; a member of the JUF-JF Executive Committee; Chaired Overall Planning & Allocations for 3 years; Chaired Kyiv-Kehilla; and Co-Chaired Health & Human Services.

She served on the Council for Jewish Elderly in Chicago, and the Chicago chapter of the American Jewish Committee. She also served on the Boards of Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston, the Council of Jewish Federations, and the Jewish Federations of North America.

Dr. Gidwitz has been a member of The Jewish Agency Board of Governors since 2000 and chairs The Jewish Agency’s Russian-Speaking Jewry Committee.