Dr. Shalem holds a B.A. in psychology and a Ph.D. in Jewish History from Bar-Ilan University. His doctoral thesis focused on the formation of the IDF’s moral codex and was later published in his book, "An Army’s Search for Meaning" (Hebrew). Motti served in the IDF’s Education Corps for twenty years and retired from active service ranking as Lieutenant-Colonel. Motti is a graduate of the first cohort of the Mandel School for Educational Leadership.  Prior to joining  the faculty of the Mandel Leadership Institute, Motti  served as the director of Yad Vashem’s International School for Holocaust Studies.