Shai Davidai

Shai Davidai
Shai Davidai
שי דוידאי
Born	1983 or 1984 (age 40–41); Ramat Gan, Israel
Title	Assistant Professor of Business
Children	2
Awards	Association for Psychological Science (APS) "Rising Star" (2020); Poets & Quants "Best 40-Under-40 MBA Professors" (2023);
Academic background
Alma mater	The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (B.A. in Psychology and Cognitive Science; 2009); Cornell University (Ph.D. in Social and Personality Psychology; 2015);
Doctoral advisor	Thomas Gilovich
Academic work
Institutions	Princeton University School of Public and International Affairs; The New School for Social Research; Columbia Business School;

Shai Davidai (born 1983 or 1984) is an Israeli assistant professor of business at Columbia Business School known for his outspoken advocacy for Israel and against the 2024 Columbia University pro-Palestinian campus occupations. After the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel and subsequent Gaza war, Davidai's pro-Israel activity led him into conflict with Columbia University students, faculty, and administrators. He was suspended from the university for alleged harassment of faculty.

In 2025, Columbia student and pro-Palestine activist Mahmoud Khalil named Davidai as one of the two main individuals behind his arrest and detention.

Shai Davidai
שי דוידאי
Born	1983 or 1984 (age 40–41) Ramat Gan, Israel
Title	Assistant Professor of Business
Children	2
Awards	Association for Psychological Science (APS) "Rising Star" (2020) Poets & Quants "Best 40-Under-40 MBA Professors" (2023)

Academic background
Alma mater	The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (B.A. in Psychology and Cognitive Science; 2009) Cornell University (Ph.D. in Social and Personality Psychology; 2015)
Doctoral advisor	Thomas Gilovich
Academic work
Institutions	Princeton University School of Public and International Affairs The New School for Social Research Columbia Business School