Brandeis Magazine

Tackey Chan, in his fourth term as state representative in Massachusetts, was appointed chair of the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure. The committee oversees legislation concerning the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, the State Lottery, franchising laws, any matter of professional licensure outside of medical licensing, and consumer protection law. Tackey, whose parents are from Hong Kong, is the first Asian- American to be appointed committee chair in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Lauren Dropkin is celebrating her fifth anniversary as assistant director of pre-law and graduate school advising at the Hiatt Career Center. Prior to returning to Brandeis in November 2012, she practiced family law in and around Chicago for 13 years. Lauren is also a Guberman Fellow with the Legal Studies Program, working with lecturer Dan Breen in his “Business Law” and “Introduction to Law” classes. Her students get a big kick out of seeing her Brandeis diploma hanging on her wall. David Harrison joined Magnus Financial Group, an investment advisory and financial planning firm located in Midtown Manhattan, as general counsel and chief compliance officer. He is on the board of trustees and serves as development chair of Westchester Torah Academy, a Jewish day school in New Rochelle, New York, where he lives with his wife and children. Francyne Davis Jacobs, husband Kevin and their three kids evacuated their home during Hurricane Harvey after water started coming in on the morning of Aug. 27. She writes, “We are all together, and safe, and moving forward.” Michael Sugar, longtime manager/producer at Anonymous Content, has formed Sugar23, a producing shingle that launches with a multiyear first-look deal with Anonymous Content. Michael, an Oscar-winning producer of “Spotlight” whose credits include “The Knick,” “The OA” and the upcoming “Maniac,” will continue to manage his clients through the Anonymous Content label. (Check out his Brandeis Questionnaire in this issue.)

INSPIRING IDEAS: Best-selling author and leadership expert Simon Sinek ’95 (center) — pictured here with Michael Saivetz ’97 and Alumni Board vice president Talee Zur Potter ’97 — spoke in October at a New York City alumni event, sponsored by Saivetz and the Richman Family Foundation. Sinek’s popular TED Talk on leadership has been viewed more than 35 million times.