Volunteer Impact Report
On behalf of the Hiatt Career Center and the Rise Together Mentor Network, we would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our 2023-2024 volunteers. We are simply blown away by the support and dedication of our alumni, parents, and the entire Brandeis community!
Alumni are a critical resource in an undergraduate’s career development. We often hear from students just how impactful their connections with alumni are, and how they’re now more confident in navigating the world of work or more prepared to pursue competitive careers.
Whether you’ve answered a student’s inquiry on LinkedIn, mentored someone through the Rise Together Mentor Network, attended a networking event, shared advice in the classroom, connected your employer with Hiatt, or given back in any other way, know that you’ve made a direct impact on Brandeis students.
Below you will find highlights from 2023-2024, as well as some exciting things to come. Thank you again to our amazing volunteers - we are so grateful for the strength of the Brandeis network!
Melissa O’Karma
Associate Director of External Engagement
Alumni as Volunteers
Alumni who generously give their time, guidance and experience are critical in helping students prepare for their next steps beyond Brandeis. We are grateful for every volunteer who answered student emails, shared their career story as a panelist, spoke in a classroom, recruited Brandeis students, or engaged with undergraduates in any other way this year.
Alumni Mentors
The Rise Together Mentor Network is the virtual space for undergraduate students to connect with alumni mentors across the globe. Since its inception in 2020, the program has grown to include over 2,000 mentors, educational workshops, collaborative cross-campus events, in-person networking opportunities and virtual office hours known as Mentor Meetups. Thank you to every mentor who has played a role in the success of this program!
We are actively seeking alumni mentors across several industries and areas of expertise. Add your name to Rise Together’s list of mentors by joining the Rise Together group on B Connect.
Spotlight: Alumni at Career Fairs
"Participating as a volunteer at the Student Lounge for the in-person career fairs this past year has been an absolutely wonderful experience! It’s such a pleasure to be able to connect with current students, talking through networking tips, discussing their questions and concerns, and learning about their academic and career aspirations.
I also am very appreciative of the opportunity to have spoken at the Deis Dinner, where alumni could meet and connect with students. I am continually inspired by Brandeis students!"
Zoe Brown '17; Harvard Kennedy School, Office of Career Advancement
Alumni at Work
Brandeis alumni volunteers are leading the charge to open doors for students at their workplace. We are grateful for all alumni who continue to post opportunities on Handshake, connect us with their recruiting or HR contacts, participate in career fairs and recruitment events, and—most critically—help reduce barriers for Brandeisians by sharing their industry knowledge, teaching role-specific skills and guiding students through competitive recruitment cycles.
In 2023-2024 we had more alumni than ever before representing their organizations/industries and connecting with Brandeis talent.
Alumni in the Classroom
Alumni are some of the best teachers to demystify the world of work for Brandeis students. This year, Hiatt partnered with numerous faculty, Undergraduate Department Representatives (UDRs), campus partners and others to bring alumni speakers into the classroom both virtually and in-person. These programs engage students and help them connect their classroom work in new ways.
Looking Ahead: Alumni Engagement at Hiatt
As we look to the 2024-2025 academic year, we look forward to partnering with our alumni volunteers to continue to drive efforts to engage more alumni, diversify our volunteer pool, and offer impactful programs and events to build stronger connections between current students and the Brandeis alumni community.