BOLLI Lecturers

Since fall 2013, BOLLI has been engaging Brandeis graduate students to lead lecture series and study groups.

These lectures and study groups have brought BOLLI members countless hours of stimulation and pleasure, bringing scholarship and teaching prowess in American history, classical music, world literature and more. Our graduate instructors have infused our study group curriculum with their learning, bringing us courses in the history of climate change, "Moby Dick" and Leonard Bernstein, among many other courses.

In turn, BOLLI lecturers have gained knowledge, understanding and experience of inestimable value to them as developing scholars and teachers. BOLLI lectureships are sought after and won in a demanding process that ultimately benefits both the curriculum and the scholar-teacher.

Apply for BOLLI lectureship

BOLLI is grateful to count these talented individuals as part of its Brandeis community.

Tamar Aizenberg
Tamar Aizenberg
Fall 2023

PhD candidate in the Department of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies at Brandeis

Natasha Baas-Thomas
Natasha Baas-Thomas
Fall 2023

PhD student in Neuroscience Department, Brandeis University

Douglas Bafford
Douglas Bafford
Fall 2019

Program of Study: Anthropology, PhD

Jared Berkowitz
Jared Berkowitz
Fall 2020 — Spring 2021

Program of Study: History, PhD

"Leading a BOLLI course is a unique opportunity. The vibrancy and intellectual curiosity of the BOLLI community has reinforced my passion for both teaching and learning."

Juliet Bottorff
Juliet Bottorff
Fall 2020, Spring 2021

Program of Study: Neuroscience, PhD

Bronson Brown-deVost
Bronson Brown-deVost
Fall 2014

Program of Study: Bible and Ancient Near East/Near Eastern and Judaic Studies, PhD

Esther Brownsmith
Esther Brownsmith
Spring 2020

Program of Study: Bible and Ancient Near East, PhD

"I am grateful to have gained great experience in guiding discussion and course-design advice about staying focused on my core teaching goals."

Jenny Choi
Jenny Choi
Fall 2019

Program of Study: Biochemistry, PhD

Sascha Cohen
Sascha Cohen
Summer 2020 — Fall 2022

Program of Study: History, PhD

Natalie Cornett
Natalie Cornett
Spring 2019

Program of Study: History, PhD

Jeremy Cynamon
Jeremy Cynamon
Fall 2019 — Spring 2021

Program of Study: Politics, PhD

"While I initially came to BOLLI to build my teaching CV, I was delighted from the very first class to discover how meaningful the teaching was. I learned much more than I could have imagined at the start. My class members were smart and unfailingly eager to learn! To top it off, they truly appreciated what I brought to the table — I  recommend applying for a BOLLI Lectureship." 

Kelsey Davis-Felder
Kelsey Davis-Felder
Spring 2017 — Spring 2018

Program of Study: Russian History, PhD

Eric Elder
Eric Elder
Spring 2017 — Spring 2019

Program of Study: Musicology, PhD

 Aly Fassett-Carman
Aly Fassett-Carman
Spring 2018, Spring 2020

Program of Study: Neuroscience, PhD

Ashley Gilliam
Ashley Gilliam
Fall 2022

Program of Study: Psychology, PhD

William Grogan
William Grogan
Spring 2018 — Spring 2022

Program of Study: Philosophy, MA

Emiliano Gutierrez Popoca
Emiliano Gutierrez Popoca
Spring 2019 — Spring 2020

Program of Study: English, PhD 

"BOLLI has been an invaluable experience in rethinking my teaching in order to speak to broader audiences. I have grown as an instructor as I have found a group of people with insightful views on a wide variety of humanistic subjects in relation to cultural products like literature, theater and film. BOLLI participants are always curious and eager to keep lively conversations going." 

Kerry Jo Green
Kerry Jo Green
Spring 2023

Program of Study: Irving and Rose Crown Fellow, Department of History

Bar Guzi
Bar Guzi
Fall 2019 — Spring 2020

Program of Study: Near Eastern and Judaic Studies, PhD

"Teaching at BOLLI was my first experience of teaching a full course in English. It was also the first time I taught adult learners. This experience instilled in me the confidence to teach and facilitate discussion...[additionally] crafting a syllabus from scratch taught me a lot about the historiography of my field. The director helped me with designing the syllabus and provided very helpful pedagogical and methodological guidance."

James Heazlewood-Dale
James Heazlewood-Dale
Spring 2019 — Present

Program of Study: Musicology, PhD

"Being part of the BOLLI community is one of the highlights of being a Brandeis graduate student. Working within the BOLLI community improves many aspects of my academic life: teaching, course design, discussing musicological issues, public speaking, answering difficult questions and having fun in the process, of course!"

Matthew Heck
Matthew Heck
Fall 2020 — Fall 2021

Program of Study: Musicology, PhD

"With their erudition, enthusiasm, and curiosity, members of the BOLLI community make it easy to have great classes and deep discussions. Teaching at BOLLI is truly a luxury."

Ryan Hitchcock
Ryan Hitchcock
Fall 2019 — Spring 2022

Program of Study: English, PhD

"Teaching at BOLLI is truly a pleasure — BOLLI is a very rewarding environment for a teacher."

Ali Kardatzke
Ali Kardatzke
Spring 2020 — Fall 2021

Program of Study: History, PhD

"This has been an extremely valuable experience for me... my favorite parts include BOLLI members' passion for learning!"

Bridget Kelleher
Bridget Kelleher
Spring 2020, Winter 2021, Fall 2021

Program of Study: History, PhD

"My time as a BOLLI Study Group Leader... helped me define my style and philosophy as an educator in a compassionate, intellectually stimulating environment... BOLLI is the single best thing a Brandeis graduate student could do for their teaching portfolio... "

Laura Laranjo
Laura Laranjo
Fall 2017 — Summer 2018

Program of Study: Molecular & Cell Biology

Matthew D. Linton
Matthew D. Linton
Fall 2017 — Spring 2018

Program of Study: History, PhD

Georgia Luikens
Georgia Luikens
Summer 2016 — Summer 2018 

Program of Study: Musicology, PhD

Joey Low
Joey Low
Fall 2020, Fall 2021

Program of Study: History, PhD

Christina Mazzio
Christina Mazzio
Spring 2023

Program of Study: Neuroscience, PhD

Miranda Peery
Miranda Peery
Spring 2022 — Present

Program of Study: English, PhD

Reza Pourmikail
Reza Pourmikail
Fall 2018 — Spring 2019

Program of Study: English, PhD

David Razor
David Razor
Fall 2015 — Fall 2018

Program of Study: English, PhD

Jared Redmond
Jared Redmond
Summer 2015 — Winter 2015, Spring 2020 — Present

Program of Study: Music Composition and Theory, PhD

Caitlin Sackrison
Caitlin Sackrison
Spring 2022

Program of Study: History, PhD

Craig Bruce Smith
Craig Bruce Smith
Summer 2015 — Winter 2016, Summer 2020

Program of Study: American History, PhD

Bradly Stone
Bradly Stone
Spring 2018, Spring 2020

Program of Study: Neuroscience

"We both learned a lot through teaching this course and enjoyed our time with the learners..."

Charles Stratford
Charles Stratford
Spring 2017 — Fall 2017, Spring 2022 — Present

Program of Study: English, PhD

Onur Toker
Onur Toker
Spring 2017 — Fall 2017, Spring 2022 — Present

Program of Study: English, PhD

Aneil Tripathy
Aneil Tripathy
Spring 2019

Program of Study: Anthropology, PhD

Anna Valcour
Anna Valcour
Spring 2023

Program of Study: Musicology, PhD

Mercedes Villalonga
Mercedes Villalonga
Fall 2021, Fall 2022

Program of Study: Psychology, PhD

Philip Wight
Philip Wight
Spring 2015-Spring 2018

Program of Study: History, PhD

"BOLLI provided me an invaluable experience to refine the craft of teaching and build a long-term relationship with a world-class community of thinkers, artists, and engaged citizens... BOLLI members have been my best students... I became a better teacher because of my time at BOLLI... Anyone who has the chance to teach at BOLLI should jump at the opportunity."

Kendra Yarbor
Kendra Yarbor
Fall 2013 — Spring 2015

Program of Study: Near Eastern & Judaic Studies, PhD

Zachary Fox
Zachary Fox

Spring 2024

PhD Student, Sociology at Brandeis University