About the Award
Richman Fellows are selected from among individuals active in public life whose contributions have had a significant impact on improving American society, strengthening democratic institutions, advancing social justice or increasing opportunities for all citizens to realize and share in the benefits of this nation.
Appointment as a Richman Fellow includes an honorarium of $25,000 and requires the individual selected to spend two to three days on the Brandeis University campus in Waltham, Massachusetts at some point during the academic year, meeting with students and faculty and participating in other activities appropriate to the accomplishments or activities that define the individual’s appointment as a Richman Fellow.
The Richman Distinguished Fellow in Public Life was created by Brandeis alumna Dr. Carol Richman Saivetz ’69, along with her children, Michael Saivetz ’97 and Aliza Saivetz Glasser ’01, in honor of Carol’s parents, Fred and Rita Richman. The award is funded by the generosity of the Richman and Saivetz families.
Founded in 1948 to embody the highest ethical and cultural values, Brandeis is the youngest private research university in the United States and the only nonsectarian university in the nation founded by members of the American Jewish community. Named for the late U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Louis Dembitz Brandeis, the University’s mission is embodied in its values of academic excellence, nonsectarianism, service to the Jewish community and social justice.
In the spirit of the Richman Distinguished Fellowship, Brandeis University celebrates a commitment to social justice and strives to reflect the heterogeneity of the United States and of the world community. While Brandeis maintains a special relationship with the Jewish community, it is not affiliated with any religious organization, offers no theological instruction, and welcomes students and faculty of every nationality, religion and political orientation.
The Richman Distinguished Fellowship in Public Life is hosted by COMPACT on behalf of the Office of the President and Office of the Provost.