Brandeis Magazine

What is the most important value you learned at Brandeis? Community.

Jamele Adams, the current dean of students, calls Brandeis “our house.” Though we never called it that when I was a student, for me nothing describes the Brandeis community better.

If you could be any other Brandeisian, who would you be?

Former university photographer Ralph Norman. Because of his work, we have an incomparable visual history of our school.

What did you enjoy most at this year’s Alumni Weekend?

Seeing Brandeisians from across many decades interact with one another. I listened to a member of the 50th Reunion class talking with a current student and two distant generations comparing their Ford Hall stories. We all share a bond that is the Brandeis experience.

What three words of advice would you give to current Brandeis students?

Enjoy the ride! What is your biggest challenge as the new Alumni Association president? Reaching the subset of alums who are not actively engaged with the university — we need to understand why.

What is your biggest opportunity?

Today’s students are tomorrow’s alumni. The Alumni Association needs to meaningfully engage students throughout their Brandeis career.

What else do you want fellow alumni to know about you?

There used to be a daily Brandeis newsletter, printed on pink paper — it was called Today — which listed campus activities and events. On April 1, 1979, an April Fool’s edition mysteriously appeared, and no one ever found out who did it. It was me (with help from a friend).

Learn more about Brooks, including his favorite Brandeis moment captured in a photo.

The Alumni Association board of directors has six new members-at-large, whose terms began July 1: Elizabeth Asen ’13, Susan Deutsch ’62, Yaron Dori ’92, Alex Goldstein ’06, Carolyn Kimberlin ’99 and Noah Prawer ’01. David Morris ’96 joins the board as the chair of the Lawyers Alumni Network, Dmitry Isenberg ’97 joins as president of the Alumni Club of Connecticut, and Shota Adamia ’15 joins as a presidential appointee.

President Ron Liebowitz traveled to Greater China this spring, meeting more than 350 alumni, parents and newly admitted students at events in Beijing, Shanghai (shown above) and Hong Kong. He also presented the Asper Award for Global Entrepreneurship to Roberta Lipson ’76 for her visionary work in transforming health-care delivery in China.

The Alumni Club of Greater China serves the fastest-growing population of Brandeis alumni, with more than 1,400 undergraduate and graduate alumni residing in the region. Local chapters engage the Brandeis community through events and conversations via regional Brandeis WeChat groups. Email china@lists.brandeis.edu to get involved.

The second annual Alumni Weekend, held May 31-June 2, drew more than 1,000 alumni and friends back to campus.

“What an amazing weekend,” says Alyssa Sanders ’89, who co-chaired her 30th Reunion. “The absolute joy and connection with folks I have loved for more than 30 years remains stalwartly intact. Who knew my time at Brandeis was just the beginning?”

In addition to class reunions, the weekend honored the 70th anniversary of The Justice. Keynote addresses during Alumni College also focused on media, featuring journalist Walt Mossberg ’69 and political analyst Bill Schneider ’66.

Other notable speakers included Michael Horowitz ’84, inspector general of the U.S. Department of Justice; University Professors Eve Marder ’69 and Jonathan Sarna ’75, MA’75; Ira Shapiro ’69, a seasoned U.S. trade negotiator; and filmmaker Debra Granik ’85.

President Ron Liebowitz presented Granik with an Alumni Achievement Award for her work as a visual anthropologist who gives voice to overlooked populations in her films.

It’s not too early to save the date for Alumni Weekend 2020, to be held June 5-7.

The Alumni Association is looking for enthusiastic alumni for a number of volunteer roles, from event chairs and hosts to career mentors and Alumni Weekend ambassadors.

Visit alumni.brandeis.edu/volunteer to learn more.

Arielle Schwartz ’11 and Rick Alterbaum ’12 were married at the Westin Waltham Boston Hotel on March 31. (Photograph by Zev Fisher Photography)

Herbie Rosen ’12 married Ali Austerlitz at Camp Kinder Ring, in Hopewell Junction, New York, on Oct. 21, 2018. The ceremony was co-officiated by Herbie’s brother, Rabbi Joseph Rosen ’14.

Dave Klasko ’07 exchanged vows with Dale Levine in Brooklyn on Jan. 6.

John Parcellin ’11 and Wei Sum Li ’10 were married on Nov. 3, 2018, surrounded by joyful Brandeisians.

Jill Virag ’01 married Asher Samuels in Jerusalem on May 24. 

Andrea Fineman and Jeremy Karp, both ’10, were married in San Francisco on Feb. 23.

Jessica Liken ’11 and Michael Gould tied the knot in Dallas on Nov. 4.

The wedding of Michelle Barras ’10 and Alexander Rosenberg, son of Kenneth Rosenberg ’78, took place at Brooklyn’s Liberty Warehouse on Dec. 16, 2018.