Department of Student Activities

Student Affairs > Student Activities > About Us

Meet the Staff

Stephanie Grimes
Director of Student Activities

Stephanie Grimes has been Director of Student Activities since July of 2004, but she is no stranger to Brandeis. Before becoming the director, she held positions including Associate Director of Student Activities, Activities Adviser and Quad Director. Her complete Brandeis experience includes 12 years of service. Before joining Brandeis, she worked as the Assistant Director of Student Involvement at Chowan College in Murfreesboro, N.C. She holds a master's degree in College Student Development and Counseling from Northeastern University and a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Bryant College (now Bryant University). She manages the day-to-day operations of the department, including but not limited to staff supervision, budget management, marketing and promotion and vision for the department. She advises the Fall Fest (Family Weekend) program alongside the associate director and Senior Week. When not in her home in the Shapiro Campus Center, she is home with her husband and her son.


Sarah Richardson
Operations Specialist

Sarah joined Brandeis in 2008 as a Student Activities Adviser. In the summer of 2009, she moved over to the Operations Specialist position within the department. She holds a master's degree in Student Affairs from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). In addition, she has a bachelor’s degree in Adolescent Math and Special Education from Keuka College in New York. During her time at IUP and Keuka IUP, Sarah worked in a variety of activities-related positions, most recently in the Student Affairs and Athletic departments at Pennsylvania State University. She is excited to be at Brandeis helping clubs, organizations and the Student Activities office develop successful programs.


Kelly Whiffen
Department Coordinator

Kelly Whiffen joined Brandeis in 2010 as the Department Coordinator of Student Activities and Community Service.  Before coming to Brandeis, she worked in several coordinating roles, including Weekly Ad Coordinator and Schedule Coordinator at CVS Caremark and Communications Coordinator at Camp West Woods. Kelly holds a bachelor's degree in Journalism from Ithaca College, where she was actively involved in campus life as a gymnast for the school's Varsity team, copy editor for the school's newspaper and co-director of a student retreat. Kelly has worked with students as a gymnastics coach for several years and is excited to assist the students in Brandeis' clubs and organizations as they plan and implement their projects and activities.


Leigh Hilderbrandt
Marketing and Box Office Manager

Leigh Hilderbrandt joined Brandeis in September 2000 as the Box Office/Subscriptions Manager for the Theater Department and moved over to Student Activities in July 2011, operating Brandeis Tickets, located in the Shapiro Campus Center Atrium.  She is excited to be able to work closely with student organizations and university departments to provide ticket services for various types of events (theater, music, conferences, fund raisers, etc.) held throughout campus. Prior to Brandeis, Leigh worked in theater administration and audience services at the Weston Playhouse Theatre Company in Weston, VT and the Hippodrome State Theatre in Gainesville, FL. In addition to theater, she has entertained a variety of career interests, including tourism sales, 911-emergency communications, and veterinary assistant. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Theater and Visual Arts from Pennsylvania State University.  Outside of Brandeis, Leigh enjoys spending time with her animals, doing repair projects at her 1720 home, and working as a certified personal trainer.


Maria Alana Anderson
Student Activities Specialist 
Maria joined Brandeis in 2011 as a Student Activities Adviser. Prior to coming to Brandeis, Maria worked at The Ohio State University as an Assistant Hall Director while earning her master’s degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs. Maria also has a bachelor’s degree in Theater Arts and Women & Gender Studies from Clark University. During her time at Clark, Maria served in several roles in the Office of Student Leadership and Programming, including the Student Activities Intern, Academic Orientation Coordinator, and Lighting Assistant. She also worked as a Technical Theater Assistant for the theater department, running lights for many department and club plays and performances. She is excited to be at Brandeis working with the Student Activities office, clubs and organizations to create engaging campus programs. 

Department of Student Activities  |  Shapiro Campus Center, MS 203  |  415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02453  |  (781) 736-5065