Office of Graduate Affairs

Jessica Basile has been working at Brandeis for close to 20 years. She holds a joint master's in anthropology and women's, gender and sexuality studies from Brandeis, where she is currently completing her doctorate in anthropology. She also holds a master's degree in the history and phenomenology of religions from the Graduate Theological Union.

As assistant dean, Jessica's work focuses on building community for graduate students across Brandeis' three graduate schools, along with crisis management and advocating for graduate student needs. Ensuring that all students have equitable access to their graduate education is fundamental to her professional pursuits.

Jessica spends as much time as she can in the woods with her dog and husband. Occasionally, her children may join them, but since her son is on his way to college and her daughter is busy with her own teenage life, she's lucky if they are all home to eat dinner together.

Jing Zhang has an undergraduate degree in business administration and is a master's degree candidate in higher education leadership and policy studies at Boston University. She has worked as an education consultant for many years and has helped many international students in their transitions to the U.S. educational system. She enjoys the many relationships she has been able to form with students from all over the world and looks forward to creating many more. Jing loves sports, hiking and music.