Brandeis Brings Together Students and Alums for Academic Trailblazers Event
November 13, 2025
Abigail Arnold and Atiqua Prithu
On October 7, 2025, Brandeis graduate students and alums gathered at Margaritas Mexican Restaurant in Waltham for a networking event and taco bar to celebrate Academic Trailblazers. The group included people who were the first in their family to earn a bachelor’s degree, who were the first in their family to attend university in the United States, and others who broke new educational ground. “Networking, or just starting conversations with new people, can be daunting for many of us,” said Becky Prigge, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, who organized the event. “To help students break the ice, we set up dedicated tables where students and alumni could sit to connect based on shared identities or professional interests. Sometimes, knowing you share one thing in common is all it takes to spark a meaningful conversation.”
Alums returned for the event to celebrate their connection to Brandeis and pay forward the help they received in their own time there. “Any opportunity to return to Brandeis is exciting because I had such a wonderful experience here,” said Liz Mahon, PhD’25 in Psychology. “The culture of support made a huge impact on me, and I’m grateful for the opportunities Brandeis gave me.” “I love seeing the multigenerational connections among friends and colleagues who have gone through this program,” added Travis Rogers, PhD’21 in Molecular and Cell Biology. “It’s meaningful to run into people I’ve mentored, and see the ripple effect of the legacy we leave behind in a relatively short time in academia.” Alums also shared advice for current students navigating the academic trailblazer experience. “Remember that you have a lot of people in your corner who want to see you succeed,” said Bailey Ludwig, PhD’24 in English. “Instead of thinking about your accomplishments as something you’re doing in spite of others, especially if they never had the same opportunities, think of everyone who is supporting you and cheering you on as you take this journey.”
Brandeis staff planned the event as an opportunity for students and alums to connect across programs and even step outside of the familiar campus zone. “I like to do some events for graduate students off-campus because a change of scenery helps people let go of the stress of all the reading, writing, and researching they need to do every day and really enjoy themselves,” said Prigge. “I also think it’s a good opportunity to support Waltham businesses and build a connection with the local community.” Alyssa Stalsberg Canelli, Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs, commented, “Graduate school can be particularly isolating, and events like this allow students to step outside their programs and departments, meet people from different disciplines, and form incredible support networks—both personally and professionally.”
Students praised the chance they had to meet alums, build connections, and learn about others’ experiences. “I spoke with Bailey, who recently completed her PhD in English and now works full-time at a college,” said Sonali Chawla, an MS student in Business Analytics. “She was honest about the current job market being difficult but emphasized the importance of networking and building connections. She even offered to connect me with her roommate, who works in marketing analytics, a field I want to pursue.”
With food, drinks, and opportunities to learn, the Academic Trailblazers event brought students and alums together across common ground.
Photo Credits: Becky Prigge, Atiqua Prithu