Brandeis Magazine

These days, when life hands you lemons, do you make (virtual) lemonade? That’s what the Brandeis Alumni Association did after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of all
in-person events last spring.

Together with alumni volunteers, Institutional Advancement staff members quickly pivoted to a fully virtual programming model, hosting their first Zoom event — a reading with children’s-book author Anne-Marie Asner, MA’96 — on April 19.

During the first three months of virtual events, more than 4,000 alumni and friends registered for at least one of the 50-plus events co-sponsored by the Alumni Association and the Brandeis National Committee. Attendees tuned in from 36 states and 28 countries, and represented every class year.

The online offerings have included lectures, panels, learn-by-doing classes, class reunions and much more, presented by more than 50 alumni and 20 Brandeis faculty members. The most popular event, Guided Meditation: Finding Peace and Meaning in Turbulent Times, led by Jennifer Smorgon ’94, attracted 766 registrants.

Recordings of many of the virtual events are available for viewing at alumni.brandeis.edu/on-demand.

Attendees give the online content high marks. “I live alone, and it’s nice to hear people sharing ideas aloud, even in a virtual event, during these times of social restriction,” wrote one event-goer.

Another said, “This is a very rewarding way for Brandeis to connect with the university community, and it sustains the intellectual aspect of the Brandeis experience that many alumni cherish and miss.”

Or, as this lifelong learner wrote, “Thanks for the opportunity to go back to college again.”

We are living in unprecedented times.

I know that not because I wear a mask when I leave home, or because I haven’t hugged my adult children since March, or because my work commute is a flight of stairs, or even because “We’re living in unprecedented times” is announced over the PA system in my local supermarket. I know that because we are continually having to make drastic changes to the way we live. We live a “new normal” today, knowing we may need to adapt to another “new normal” tomorrow.

Many years ago, I was introduced to the practice of agile software development, an approach where planning is important but the ability to change plans as necessary is even more important. Today, I am very proud to see Brandeis taking “agile” to a whole new level.

In a matter of days last March, the university changed from an in-person campus to an online version of itself. The majority of students, faculty and staff finished the spring semester at home, in front of their computers, living and learning in new ways.

Degrees were conferred not in Gosman Sports and Convocation Center but on screens in graduates’ homes. Instead of attending Alumni Weekend on campus, classes hosted Zoom reunions to reconnect, laugh and reminisce with hundreds of familiar faces. In-person alumni gatherings quickly became massive online events that have given rise to weekly virtual programs for the entire Brandeis community.

And then, this fall, the Class of 2024 came to campus. Brandeis, as agile as ever, had planned for multiple scenarios for how the fall semester would proceed. I’m proud Brandeis is committed both to providing a great student experience, and to protecting the health and safety of its community.

If more change is required, Brandeis is agile. It will adapt. And it will succeed.

Be well,

Lewis Brooks ’80, P’16
President, Brandeis Alumni Association

Michael Sugar ’95, an award-winning film and TV producer, and business leader Paul Zlotoff ’72 are the recipients of the university’s 2020 Alumni Achievement Awards.

Sugar was one of the producers of the film “Spotlight,” which won the 2015 Academy Award for best picture. He also earned Peabody Awards for the Apple TV+ series “Dickinson” and the Cinemax series “The Knick,” along with critical acclaim for the Netflix series “13 Reasons Why” and “The OA.” His recent projects include “The Report,” starring Adam Driver, and “Worth,” with Michael Keaton. A longtime partner in the production and management company Anonymous Content, Sugar has also formed his own production company, Sugar23.

Zlotoff is the chairman of Uniprop, a private company headquartered in Birmingham, Michigan, which invests in real estate and private equity. Its portfolio includes commercial and residential properties in 14 states, and an eclectic mix of businesses. A generous supporter of Brandeis, Zlotoff served as Alumni Association president for two terms, was a Board of Trustees member for many years and twice served as chair of the Board of Fellows. He is now a member of the Fellows Council, offering guidance to the current Board of Fellows chair and the university.

On July 1, three new members-at-large joined the Brandeis Alumni Association board of directors: David Allon ’81, P’22; Joan Feinberg Berns ’70, MA’71, PhD’74; and Elias Rauch ’84.

In addition, Joram Cukierman ’98, MA’99, joined the board as the Brandeis International Business School representative, and Howard Jeruchimowitz ’94, P’23, joined as president of the Alumni Club of Chicago.

We’re hoping it will be safe to reunite on campus June 11-13 for a weekend-long celebration of old and new bonds.

This spring, we’ll be celebrating milestone reunions for alumni whose class years end in 0, 1, 5 or 6.

For the latest plans about connecting in person or online, visit alumni.brandeis.edu/alumniweekend.

David Litvak ’11 and McKinley Sherrod, both of Chicago, celebrated their wedding in June with doughnuts and champagne. Their main ceremony is being planned for 2021.

Gregory Bray and Kristina Pisarik, both ’15, were married in June. The couple is planning a 2021 celebration to share their happiness with family and friends.

Zachary Reff ’05 married Cassidy Baker on June 20 in Minneapolis, holding a small ceremony on Zoom for their friends and family. They plan to have a larger in-person celebration next year.

Dev Bondarin ’01 and John Herin were married in March at the Manhattan Penthouse, in New York City. The ceremony was officiated by Lisa Cagnacci ’01.

Alex Goldstein ’06 and Alyssa Biller exchanged vows at a pre-pandemic wedding earlier this year, surrounded by generations of Brandeisians.