Brandeis Posse Scholars

R Matthews sitting in a chair

"All the people [at Brandeis] are very interesting and want to make a difference in the world." - R Matthews ’19

Keven Macareno stands in a lab

“When I found out I got into Posse, it felt like a dream...I couldn't wait to find out who the other scholars going to Brandeis were — the people whom I would build a family with." - Keven Macareno ’20

LaShawn Simmons sitting in an auditorium filled with orange light

With a CAST grant, LaShawn Simmons ’18 made "Ebony Axis," a poetry zine for black women on campus.

Joelle Robinson sits in a chair with a computer

"The STEM Posse creates a culture of sharing ideas and sparking interests around all the sciences." - Joelle Robinson ’18

Joel Burt-Miller stands in the library

"Brandeis has provided me the chance to push past boundaries within myself as I push past geographic borders." - Joel Burt-Miller ’16

Jose Vargus stands in front of a chalkboard that has been written on.

"I've had so many teachers support and inspire me, in high school and at Brandeis. I want to do the same." - Jose Vargas ’15

Each year, students from New York City and Atlanta are selected as Brandeis Posse Scholars. These students receive four-year, full-tuition leadership scholarships, making Posse one of the most competitive scholarship competitions in the country.

About Posse

Brandeis Posse is a merit-based scholarship program founded by Brandeis alumna and member of the Brandeis Board of Trustees, Deborah Bial ’87. Brandeis Posse Scholars are selected for their academic, leadership, and communication skills. They are expected to be not only strong students but also demonstrate outstanding interpersonal and problem-solving skills. The Brandeis Posse Program consists of two programs: one for liberal arts scholars and one for science scholars, with 10 students in each program.

A group of students smiling, standing outside on a gray day

Video: The Posse Video

Photo Credit: The Posse Foundation

About the Scholars

Brandeis Posse Scholars are leaders inside and outside of the Brandeis classroom. Scholars have been inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, have been Fulbright recipients and regularly graduate with university and departmental honors. Brandeis Posse Scholars hold many leadership positions, including serving as vice president of the Student Union, coordinator of the Orientation Core Committee, coordinator of Mosaic, student representative to the Brandeis Board of Trustees, Coexistence Fellows, as well as numerous leadership positions in campus clubs.

Brandeis Posse graduates continue to make their mark on the world. 

  • Posse Scholars have gone on to hold positions such as teachers, poets, artists, lawyers, public health officials, research scientists, doctors, business owners and activists.

  • You may come across them in positions at organizations such as State Street Bank, Teach for America, Tufts Medical School, Harvard Medical School, Lead for Life, Future Foundation Inc., Barclay Capital, Goldman Sachs, Genentech, US Department of State, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, and the Cambridge Public Schools.

  • You will find graduates enrolled in the most prestigious graduate, law and medical schools such as Duke University School of Medicine, Rutgers University, SUNY North, SUNY South, Hofstra School of Law, University of Miami, Cornell University, Boston College, Duke University Fuqua School of Business, Brown University, Harvard University, New York Medical College, and Icahn School of Medicine.