Get Involved
For more information about the Student Ambassadors program, contact:
Beth Bernstein, MA'90
Director of Programming and Publications
(781) 736-4190
bernstein@brandeis.edu
Student Ambassadors
The Brandeis National Committee initiated the Student Ambassadors program in an effort to connect its chapters with Brandeis students. Understanding the unique mission of the BNC, our students can become extraordinary ambassadors in bringing their on-campus experiences to BNC members.
For BNC chapters and members, this program offers short presentations by Brandeis students as a special part of a BNC program. In their presentations, students discuss their courses of study, interactions with faculty, research, or internships, extra-curricular activities, and overall experiences at Brandeis. The presentations convey the students' passion for Brandeis, present some elements of their life stories, and create a picture of a unique Brandeis experience.
For the students, becoming ambassadors offers an opportunity to share with dedicated Brandeis supporters their research, as well as experiences and perspectives of an institution that has afforded them great opportunities to learn and to prepare them for the future.
Hear directly from our Hills Chapter about the impact of the program:
"We are pleased to tell you that BNC Student Ambassador Eduardo Keane recently accepted our invitation to be the special guest speaker at our chapter's monthly meeting. He is truly a wonderful, intelligent young man and a most impressive representative of the student body of Brandeis University. Eduardo addressed our group with exceptional enthusiasm for the university, its programs and its interest in its students. Our members were impressed with his intelligence and his charming and respectful manner. He also encouraged discussion following his address in an extensive question-and-answer session. His visit truly inspired our members, and we left the meeting feeling confident that we made the right decision to join BNC and support Brandeis University. This is a valuable program."
Meet our two student representatives on the National Executive Committee:
Eduardo Keane
Year of graduation: 2014
Areas of study: Biochemistry
Hometown: Miami Beach, FL
Why Brandeis?
"When I was deciding which school to attend, it came down to four schools that had great reputations, stellar academics and, overall, everything I wanted in a college. I chose Brandeis because I enjoy the strong sense of social justice and community exhibited by both the students and the staff. At Brandeis, students enjoy learning more about the world around them and about themselves. I feel comfortable expressing myself freely and think of Brandeis as my second home."
Savannah Pearlman
Year of graduation: 2012
Areas of study: Philosophy, French, Politics
Hometown: Calabasas, CA
Why Brandeis?
"From my first time on campus, I was truly impressed by Brandeis' commitment to social justice. It's palpable on campus, from the activism groups themselves to the sense of unity their benefit concerts, projects, and even protests inspire. Brandeis students are socially aware, environmentally responsible, and willing to take action. With a student body like that, how could I go anywhere else?"
Meet our other Student Ambassadors:
Alicia Ball
Year of graduation: 2015
Areas of study: Sociology, Spanish
Hometown: Freehold, NJ
Why Brandeis?
"I chose Brandeis because when I came to visit, I was struck by the friendly atmosphere on campus. I was approached by multiple students and professors who wanted to answer my questions and help me find my way around campus. I felt so at home and comfortable as a result of everyone's kindness that I decided this was the school for me."
Hayley Browdy
Year of graduation: 2013"When looking for colleges there were two things I looked for: a small school where I could do undergraduate research and a school near a big city. Brandeis met those criteria and introduced me to so much more that I didn't even realize I wanted. I saw not just a school but a community dedicated to social justice and education, and a place where I could pursue all different kinds of interests."
Samantha Daniels-Kolin
Areas of study: Biology, International and Global Studies
Hometown: Bethesda, MD
Why Brandeis?
"I chose to come to Brandeis because it's a school that has gone out of its way to gain my attention and interest, and it has made me feel welcome and like an important part of the community. Brandeis was a school I knew very little about when I first started looking at colleges. Every student wants a school where they can get a great education, and there are many schools around the world that offer that. But I chose Brandeis because of its location, the personal attention it gives its students and the great vibe that exists on campus and among the students. Some of the more prestigious schools in the country pay little or no attention to its undergraduate students, and especially to the freshmen because they are considered to be at the bottom of the pile. At Brandeis it's quite the opposite; first-years and even prospective freshmen are welcomed with great excitement and open arms, no matter who they encounter."
Nettie Faratci
Year of graduation: 2012
Areas of study: Bachelor of Arts in Health: Science, Society and Policy; Biology
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Why Brandeis?
"I chose to attend Brandeis because of its core values and its strong sense of community. Brandeis emphasizes the merits of dedication and determination through promoting academic excellence and social justice. The Brandeis community works together in striving for the betterment of humanity, and that sentiment greatly resonates with me."
Philip Gallagher
Year of graduation: 2014
"I was looking for a school with a thoughtful and engaged student body. I found that Brandeis students fulfilled this criteria especially well, as they are intellectually curious and passionate about community service."
Miriam Halimi
Year of graduation: 2013
Areas of study: Neuroscience, Biology, East Asian Studies
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Why Brandeis?
"Brandeis provides me with the opportunity to expand my mind and express my enthusiasm for learning and growing. It is thanks to the support I have received that I am able to experience all that Brandeis has to offer. I am proud to be a Brandeisian because of the university's strong sense of community, history of excellence in academics and social justice, and the renowned professors and diverse student body that make it all possible. By attending such a prestigious university, I am able to broaden my outlooks on the world and become a more well-rounded individual so that I may significantly contribute to society."
Njelle Hamilton
Year of Ph.D. completion: May 2012
Areas of study: Postcolonial and Caribbean literatures (specifically music in the Caribbean novel) in the Department of English and American Literature
Hometown: Port Antonio, Jamaica
Why Brandeis?
"I was drawn to the English program at Brandeis because of its small size; its focus on professional preparation through teaching, workshops and colloquia; the profile of its professors, particularly Faith Smith, who is now my advisor and from whom I've learned so much; and its location just outside Boston, a city with which I've always been fascinated."
Chase Hiller
Year of graduation: 2012
Why Brandeis?
Missy Mandell
Year of graduation: 2013
Areas of study: Education Studies, Linguistics, Anthropology, Hebrew
Hometown: Toms River, NJ
Why Brandeis?
"After I was accepted, if you had asked me why I chose Brandeis, I would have said I was looking for a Jewish community; I didn't want to be in a city but liked that Brandeis was near a city; I was interested in studying many things and Brandeis had a lot of choices; and a number of other wonderful qualities that I still believe Brandeis possesses. After my first year at Brandeis, and after being away for about three months, ask me why Brandeis and the only answer I can give is that it feels like home to me and I couldn't imagine myself anywhere else."
Danielle Mizrachi
Year of graduation: 2015
Areas of study: Psychology, Business, Social Justice
Hometown: Stamford, CT
"When I visited Brandeis I was immediately impressed with the open-minded students. All of the Brandeisians I met were hardworking and very involved. I was easily able to visualize myself being at the school because of this. I was also excited to learn about how admirable the academics proved to be, and I decided at that point that I wanted to go here."
Joshua Nass
Year of graduation: 2014
Areas of study: Politics
Hometown: New Rochelle, NY
Why Brandeis?
"While visiting Brandeis I became enamored by its warm environment, which for me has proven to be conducive to tremendous growth, not only academically but also extracurricularly. Brandeis provides its students with a wealth of opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to face the challenges of the outside world. There's no doubt that its academics are unmatched and its faculty unparalleled. There's no place on earth that is able to strike as effective a balance between its rigorous curriculum and sociable atmosphere. There's no place like Brandeis."
Rachel Porter
Year of graduation: 2014
Areas of study: Hispanic Studies, Education
Hometown: Sarasota, FL
Why Brandeis?
"I chose Brandeis University because of a few key factors—I wanted to go to school in Massachusetts because my parents are from New England and they had told me how wonderful schools in Massachusetts are; Brandeis stood out not only because of its reputation for academic excellence, but also because of its commitment to social justice, open-minded critical thinking and variety in the liberal arts. I also liked that there was a visible Jewish culture because that's something I wanted to explore after living in a mostly Christian community."
Daniel Shimansky
Year of graduation: 2012
Areas of study: Psychology, Pre-Dental Studies
Hometown: Boca Raton, FL
Why Brandeis?
"From my first visit to the Brandeis campus, the warmth and interest expressed by students, faculty and administration was apparent and welcoming. At Brandeis, any request for assistance is responded to with attentiveness and promptness. If something can be done to facilitate a student's life in any way, it is done. Brandeis has given me a first-rate education in an environment that is second to none in caring and consideration."
Andre Ve P. Tran
Year of graduation: 2014
Areas of study: Bachelor of Science in Biology (Pre-Med Track)
Why Brandeis?
Paul Vancea
Year of graduation: 2014
Areas of study: Business, Film, Economics
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Why Brandeis?
"Before coming to Brandeis I used to read about and idolize people who changed the world. After coming to Brandeis, I began identifying with those people. This is mainly because I am becoming one of them and because I am surrounded by them every day. Brandeis is the 'social justice nest.'"
Lindsey Weiss
Year of graduation: 2014
Areas of study: Bachelor of Arts in Health: Science, Society and Policy; Hispanic Studies
Hometown: Tampa, FL
Why Brandeis?
"Brandeis was the most natural and sensible choice for me as it embodies all that I value. I am attracted to the unique history and current activism, as well as service to critically important causes. I thrive with friends and professors with diverse viewpoints and backgrounds. I am energized with the spectrum of what Brandeis has to offer outside the classroom, and I am challenged by the quality and breadth of opportunities within the classroom. I am proud to be a Brandeisian."