Brandeis Magazine

Now that President Ron Liebowitz has outlined his vision for the university (as he discusses in his letter in this issue), the prospect of helping him turn his ideas into reality truly fills me with excitement and pride, as I know it does you.

Midway through my final year as your Alumni Association president, I want to share a realization I’ve had about our connection to Brandeis. In 1978, after my class’s Commencement, I started the drive home to Canada filled with a mix of bittersweet feelings. I knew I’d had a spectacular academic experience that would serve me well, as indeed it has. I also knew I hadn’t stretched myself to get to know most of my classmates, and so I felt sad and regretful, because the chance was gone and there would be no do-over.

But I was wrong. No, we don’t get to repeat our college years. But I have learned over time that Brandeis will always be my school. I can always attend local alumni events that feature Brandeis professors talking about their latest research. I can ask for career counseling from the Hiatt Career Center. I can network with other alumni for career opportunities or engage with other social activists. I can come back to campus for an Alumni Weekend and strike up friendships with classmates I’ve never met before. Brandeis is a lifelong community, one that will always have a place for each of us.

Another way of reclaiming our place at Brandeis is to share our ideas with university administrators. Years ago, I visited the Brandeis website, which was fairly new at the time, to leave a message expressing my disappointment about the lack of alumni groups in Canada. The administration was receptive to my thoughts, and the Brandeis Alumni Club of Toronto was soon launched. From my recent work on the university’s Alumni Association board and the Board of Trustees, I can tell you that alumni are seen as important stakeholders in Brandeis. Our opinions are valued; indeed, the trustees and alumni board members expect to receive them, especially at critical decision-making moments.

Clearly, realizing Ron’s vision for Brandeis will require financial support from alumni. I recognize that many of you don’t or can’t always respond to appeals for support from Brandeis. Yet the university’s success depends on alumni support. And we should always remember that our successes — both the ones we enjoy in our professional lives, and the fulfillment we derive from the interests and values we cultivated at college — cannot be divorced from the first-class academic experience we enjoyed. This is true for all of us, regardless of our individual programs or graduation years.

Your support represents the Brandeis spirit of activism and giving back, and ensures our university can remain the dynamic, diverse place we enjoyed as students. Nearly two-thirds of the student body receives financial aid; alumni gifts make that possible. Brandeis will always be our school. We must keep its future secure.

Best,

Mark Surchin ’78
President, Brandeis Alumni Association

When the weather was warm, the alumni events were sizzling, from the Berkshires to Beijing.

Tanglewood

At the university’s Afternoon at Tanglewood event, 45 alumni and friends enjoyed a concert by cellist Yo-Yo Ma, H’11; conductor Andris Nelsons; and the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra. Sharyn Weiner ’65; Deborah Turney; Herb Turney ’59; David Weiner ’63; and Leslie Friedman, Heller MMHS’90, were among the happy music lovers.

Alumni in China

In Beijing, alumni and admitted students were welcomed at a university reception. The guests included Gaohan Zhang, MA’14; Roy Hua, PhD’96, chair of the Alumni Club of Greater China; Sean Xiang, MA’09, president of the Alumni Club of Shanghai; Chang Liu ’12, president of the Alumni Club of Beijing; and Tianye Zhang ’12.

Bernstein at 100

Ingrid Schorr, director of the university’s Office of the Arts, met with alumni and friends at the Skirball Cultural Center, in Los Angeles, for a tour of the center’s “Leonard Bernstein at 100” exhibition. 

Matt Krinsky ’00, co-chair of the Arts Network; Schorr; and Jackie Simons ’89, president of the Alumni Club of Southern California.

Diony Elias ’04 and Marissa Martinez ’03.

Jim Felton ’85, member-at-large, Alumni Association board of directors; Deborah Charlton ’91; Patsy Fisher, vice president of alumni relations; Marvin March ’52, P’93, P’94; Rita March ’64, P’93, P’94; and Anita Dymant ’71.

Capital Cheer

Tamar Ariel ’10, Daniel Havivi ’07 and event chair Ariele Bernard ’05 at an alumni happy hour in Washington, D.C.

Bold Outing

At a Bold event at Rare Bar & Grill in Midtown Manhattan, members of the Class of 2018 were welcomed to the Alumni Club of New York. Daniel Acheampong ’11 and Rebecca Bachman ’13 are national co-chairs of Bold, a young-alumni program for classes of the past 10 years.

Alumni Networking

More than 30 alumni returned to campus to network with students interested in business, consulting or finance careers at a meet-up organized by the Hiatt Career Center.