Michael A. Koss, LA philanthropist, developer, elected a Brandeis trustee

Michael A. Koss, the president and chairman of a Los Angeles real estate investment and development firm, a noted philanthropist, Jewish community leader and parent of a Brandeis graduate, has been elected to the Brandeis University Board of Trustees, Chairman Malcolm L. Sherman announced.

Koss has been involved in civic and philanthropic life in Los Angeles for many years. He serves as president of the Michael Koss Charitable Foundation, which was founded in 2008.

He is the father of Autumn Koss Sarzana ’96, who is married to Jesse Sarzana ’97.

“Michael is a Brandeis parent and a major figure in the LA philanthropic world who has already played an instrumental and creative role enhancing our presence with other parents, alumni and friends in California,” said President Fred Lawrence. “He is helping us build a President’s California Council of major supporters, and we are extremely grateful for his wisdom and his leadership. ”

Koss is the fourth new trustee to have joined the board this year.

James Humphreys, a practicing attorney and president of James F. Humphreys and Associates, a law firm in Charleston, West Virginia, was elected to the board in March. Humphreys formerly served in the West Virginia legislature and is a member of numerous nonprofit boards, including those serving George Washington University, the Brain Injury Association of America and the Washington National Opera.

Frances Bermanzohn ‘78, a managing director and deputy general counsel at Goldman Sachs, was elected to the board in May. She has been active in the Alumni Club of New York’s Wall Street network and reunion organizing committees.

Adam Rifkin ‘97, a managing director in the Retail Investment Banking Group at Barclays Capital, also joined the board in May by virtue of his presidency of the Brandeis Alumni Association. Rifkin joined the association board in 2006 and became a vice president a year later.

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