Brandeis Magazine

Allon Gal, MA’70, PhD’76, H’11, professor emeritus at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, is continuing to edit and publish. His work is concentrated in three areas: Israel and Zionism, Louis D. Brandeis and nationalism. Don Light, PhD’70, serves as an adviser for Doctors Without Borders’ global vaccine campaign and is a guest researcher at Prince­ton, where he is studying why the Affordable Care Act has improved access to health insurance for some immigrants while impeding it for others. He writes, “Studying sociology at Brandeis and becoming imbued with social justice still shape my career.” Cathy Spatz Widom, MA’70, PhD’73, distinguished professor of psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, was one of three winners of the 2016 Stockholm Prize in Criminology, for her groundbreaking research on the causes and consequences of child abuse and neglect. Brandeis President Emeritus Jehuda Reinharz, PhD’72, delivered the Dr. Fritz Bamberger Memorial Lecture at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. His lecture was titled “Statesman Without a State: The Case of Chaim Weizmann.” After 44 years in two vocations — college teaching and pastoral ministry — the Rev. Jack Cook, MA’73, retired from full-time ministry. He now serves as the part-time pastor of the Second Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, in Manchester, Connecticut. Eric Goldman, MFA’74, MA’75, is an author, professor and lecturer in Jewish, Israeli and Yiddish film. An adjunct associate professor of cinema at Yeshiva University, he is also founder and president of Ergo Media, a New Jersey-based film-distribution company specializing in Jewish cinema. Barry Silverberg, MA’75, is director of the Center for Nonprofit Studies at Austin Community College, in Texas. He spent 23 years leading Jewish Federations in Syracuse, New York, and Austin. Stephen Almekinder, MA’79, recently had two novels published: “The Book of the Bag” and “The Last King of Winterhold.” Eric Kingson, Heller PhD’79, P’09, Syracuse University professor of social work and a leading expert on Social Security and aging issues, is running for the Democratic nomination in New York’s 24th Congressional District race.