Class Correspondent

Justin Becker, the president of the Duke Law School student body, directed and starred as Richard Nixon in “Tricky Dick,” a musical written by Duke Law School students and starring a 50-person ensemble of professors, administrators and students. The play, which honors the most infamous graduate of the law school, was performed on April 1 at a sold-out arts center in downtown Durham, N.C. Organizers want to make the zany, cabaret-style show an annual tradition.

Jessica Boatman reports that she is in her first year at UMass Medical School in Worcester, along with classmate Vivek Venugopal.

Ian Guss is an account coordinator at public relations giant Weber Shandwick’s New York office. He works primarily on the Samsung account and traveled to Las Vegas this year to support the team during the annual Consumer Electronics Show.

Aharon HaCohen and his wife, Noreen, moved to Israel. He has his own translation business. He writes, “We are enjoying life in the beautiful Western Galilee.”

Fanny Familia is a paralegal at a New York law firm. She plans to pursue a master’s degree in criminal justice in the fall. She also volunteers at her community church, teaching catechism to sixth and seventh graders. Matthew Jennings works for an international consulting firm, helping international students from East Asia study in America.

David Goldstein writes, “I had a very eventful 2010. I completed a master’s in organizational behavior while living in Tel Aviv. Throughout my stay in Israel, I dedicated a significant amount of time to exploring the countryside, learning about Mediterranean cuisine, promoting a reggae event, and working on my beach volleyball skills. During semester breaks I took a few trips outside the country — to Amsterdam; Bratislava, Slovakia; Istanbul; Petra, Jordan; Prague; Vienna; and five cities in Germany. To celebrate the completion of my degree, I indulged my love of wine with a seven-week stay on a vineyard in the Piemonte region of Italy to participate in the annual grape harvest. Since returning to the greater New York City area, I launched a website (www.davidjgoldstein.com) and have started interviewing to begin a career in the private sector.”

Christina Khemraj celebrated her two-year anniversary as an operations analyst at Barclays Capital in New York. Christina and her husband, Robin, celebrated their one-year wedding anniversary on April 3. The couple recently purchased their first home in New Jersey. This past year, aside from having a hectic work schedule, Christina and Robin have been spending time with family and friends and traveling to various Caribbean destinations. Christina remains close with her senior-year suitemates — all of whom were bridesmaids in her wedding.

Maxine Kantor is a clinical educator in the adolescent unit at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Mass., where she has worked full time since August 2010. She plans to apply to psychology graduate programs. Maxine writes, “I relax by reading, jogging, taking classes (including ballet) and spending time with June Michaelson and other Brandeis alums. I wish my fellow graduates happiness and success in your (present and future) endeavors.”

Leah Lipka worked at Big Sky Ski Resort in Montana during the winter. She was a receptionist and skied every day. In the summer, she plans to backpack through Southeast Asia by herself for three months. Then, in the fall, she will return to Alaska for her second season as head coach of the Lathrop High School swim team in Fairbanks.

David Drayton writes, “I taught myself a useful skill —  web design. As a result, I landed a great job within a matter of months and have been enjoying life in the sunny state of California with my girlfriend. My plan is to pursue this skill further and hopefully turn it into a long-term profession. I’m hoping to make a name for myself in the industry by starting a business with a fellow Brandeis graduate.”

Laura Cohen has worked for two years as a health policy analyst at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. She recently co-authored a publication on Massachusetts health reform and women’s health. Laura attends Suffolk University Law School’s evening division and will graduate with a J.D. in 2014. She resides in Brookline with her best friend, Katy Agule, and their two cats, Salem and Willow.

Nikita Beniaminov is art director for Pick Up America, whose volunteers pick up trash around the country and spread a message of zero waste. Nikita’s job duties include creating recyclable artwork, outfitting the organization’s waste vegetable oil bus, and outreach.

Daniel Snyder earned a master’s degree in journalism at New York University while working as an intern at the Village Voice. He is applying now for internships in New York and Washington, D.C., for the coming year.

Nicola Brodie, a student at Ben-Gurion University’s Medical School for International Health, was selected to participate in the American Medical Student Association’s Sexual Health Scholars program. The yearlong distance learning program is in its second year and is designed to address the lack of knowledge and skills training of American medical students in sexual health education.

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