Brandeis Magazine

Kenneth Goldstein, GSAS MFA’00, is the dean of Ramapo College’s School of Contemporary Arts. Albert Schmidt, GSAS PhD’00, is acting secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Formerly, he served as a Republican commissioner for the city of Philadelphia from 2012-22. In January, he received the Presidential Citizens Medal from President Joe Biden for opposing efforts to overturn 2020 election results in Philadelphia. Naomi Wernick, GSAS MS’00, PhD’05, is a teaching professor of biological sciences at UMass Lowell. Her research interests include biology education. Matthew Burke, Heller MBA’01, is vice president of clinical strategy at Vaniam Group, a global health-care communications company. Previously, he was chief of staff and head of clinical strategy for the chief medical officer at Agenus. Mignon Duffy, Heller MA’01, GSAS PhD’05, is a professor of sociology at UMass Lowell. Her research interests include care work, intersectionality, and labor market inequalities. Rebecca Ely, Heller MBA’01, is director of resource development at Operation Pathways, which seeks to transform affordable-housing communities through programs that help residents achieve the future they desire. Paul Beaudoin, GSAS PhD’02, is an interdisciplinary artist who works in sound, video, text, and visual art. Joel D. Hirst, Heller MA’03, is foreign policy lead for U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA). Meredith Woocher, GSAS PhD’03, is director of learning at the Covenant Foundation, a nonprofit in New York City working to strengthen educational endeavors that perpetuate the identity, continuity, and heritage of the Jewish people. Previously, she was a senior project leader at Rosov Consulting. Debbie Alexander, IBS MA’04, is lead operational risk officer at Wells Fargo, working with the internal control program. Jennifer Lafleur, GSAS MFA’04, has a featured role in the 2022 film “The Drop,” a black comedy released on Hulu in January. An acting edition of “Burning Up the Dictionary,” a play by Meron Langsner, GSAS MFA’04, has been published by Next Stage Press. The play premiered at the Boston Center for the Arts in 2012 and was nominated for an Independent Reviewers of New England Award for Best New Play. Franck Salameh, GSAS PhD’04, is editor in chief of The Journal of the Middle East and Africa. Heather King, Heller MBA’05, is executive director of the Columbia Slough Watershed Council, a nonprofit in Portland, Oregon. Steven Ridge, IBS MA’05, is senior vice president and chief financial officer at Dominion Energy. Andrea Heilman, GSAS MFA’06, was nominated for an Outstanding Lighting Design award by the Orange County Theater Guild for her work on a production of “American Idiot” at the Chance Theater, in Anaheim, California. The guild also nominated the play for an Outstanding Production award. Andrea is an associate professor in California Lutheran University’s theater and dance department. Jeremy Kuzmarov, GSAS PhD’06, managing editor of CovertAction Magazine, received the Serena Shim Award, given to recognize integrity in journalism. Jeremy has written four books on U.S. foreign policy, including “Obama’s Unending Wars: Fronting the Foreign Policy of the Permanent Warfare State” (Clarity Press, 2019). Bernie McCann, Heller MA’07, PhD’11, is employee assistance program specialist at the Baltimore County (Maryland) Public School System, managing EAP services for 20,000 employees and their household members. Oge Onubogu, Heller MA’07, directs the Africa program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, in Washington, D.C. Formerly, Oge was director of the West Africa program at the United States Institute of Peace. Jennifer Genova, GSAS MAT’09, MEd’21, is a middle school social-studies teacher in Salem, New Hampshire.