Class Correspondent

Naomi Baron, professor of linguistics and executive director of the Center for Teaching, Research and Learning at American University, has a new book, “Words Onscreen: The Fate of Reading in a Digital World.” The book compares reading hard copy to reading on laptops, e-readers, tablets and mobile phones, exploring how the nature of reading changes as words move increasingly from print to pixels. Naomi says her years at Brandeis instilled in her a love of language, both spoken and written. Alan Fox directed a staged reading of “Elsie Janis and the Boys” at the York Theatre Company. Using her experience as a former feature-film development executive, Sara Anne (Saran) Fox is working with clients to edit two books and develop a romantic comedy and a family drama. She also teaches at Los Angeles Valley College. Stephen Goldman, P’04, serves as executive director of the Holocaust Memorial Center’s Zekelman Family Campus, in Farmington Hills, Mich. He hopes to broaden the center’s perspective, so visitors can learn about genocide as well as the Holocaust, and to preserve the memories of people who lived through atrocities. “What I want to show is that there is hope,” he says. “No matter how bad things are, there is hope.” Andy Harmon, MFA’70, wrote the book “Change Journey,” which describes the real-life drama of creativity: the archetypal crises and conflicts we face when we set out to make a difference in the world, and the inner resources we need to draw on to succeed. Shirley Kressel wrote the foreword. Andy has 40 years of experience as a theater director and playwright, and 25 years as a leadership coach. Samuel Heilman reports he spent six weeks lecturing and teaching in Poland as a Fulbright senior specialist, then headed to South Africa for lectures in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. He’s working on a book about contemporary Hasidic dynasties and their problems around succession. Samuel and wife Ellin ’69 have eight grandchildren. Bob Hoffman spent six weeks in Jordan through Doctors Without Borders, treating people wounded in the Syrian conflict. He writes, “It was gratifying — but very depressing to see up close how bad this war is.” He also takes part in medical missions to Latin America and Asia on a regular basis. Shirley and Herb Kressel welcomed their first grandchild on Jan. 12. Ron Kronish, P’99, edited a book of essays, “Coexistence and Reconciliation in Israel: Voices for Interreligious Dialogue.” Ron, who has lived in Jerusalem for the past 36 years, retired after 24 years as founding director of the Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel. He now devotes his time to his family, and lectures and writes blogs for The Huffington Post and The Times of Israel. Charles and Myra Novogrodsky, both retired, are active volunteers with Amistad Canada. They welcomed their fifth grandchild, Levi Valentijn. Their younger son, Tobias, helped bring the Pan American Games to Toronto over the summer. Older son Noah is a law professor at the University of Wyoming. Mark Simon reports that he continues as a partner at his architectural firm, Centerbrook, with no thoughts of retiring because he is still having fun. He has designed another house for Jon and Penny Bernstein, this one high on a hill in Mexico. He writes, “It is a thrilling opportunity, and I am so lucky to have them as friends and patrons.” 
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