Brandeis names two industry leaders as trustees
January 27, 2026
Brandeis has added two business leaders to its Board of Trustees: Len Asper ‘86, P’25, is a 30-year veteran of the media industry, and John Katzman is a longtime innovator in education and educational technology.
“Both Len and John are transformational leaders who bring tremendous experience and knowledge to our board,” said Lisa Kranc, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “We are thrilled to have them join the board and look forward to the strategic insights they will offer.”
Asper is the CEO, founder and majority shareholder of Anthem Sports & Entertainment Corp., a global media company that produces, acquires and distributes content and creates experiences aimed at passionate communities.
He is a longtime supporter of his alma mater, serving as co-chair of the Board of Advisors of Brandeis’ School of Business and Economics, where he was awarded the school’s Dean’s Medal and founded the Asper School for Global Entrepreneurship. He also established the Asper Award for Global Entrepreneurship, awarded annually to an outstanding entrepreneur, and the Asper Student Startup Prizes awarded to Brandeis business students.
Prior to founding Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Asper was CEO of Canwest Global Communications, one of Canada’s largest media companies. He earned his law degree from the University of Toronto Law School. He also serves as a Trustee of the Asper Foundation, is the founder of the Joshua Foundation and a member of the Board of Governors of the Saul and Claribel Simkin Center, a seniors’ housing complex in Winnipeg, Canada.
“Brandeis has benefitted immensely from Len’s continuing support,” said Brandeis President Arthur Levine. “He brings to Brandeis vision, imagination, a record of entrepreneurship, and a love of his Alma Mater.”
Katzman is the founder and CEO of Noodle, which helps its university partners become more resilient, responsive, efficient, and interconnected through its learning and enrollment technology and services. Prior to Noodle, Katzman founded and ran two large public education organizations: 2U, which pioneered high-quality online degree programs; and The Princeton Review, which helps students find, get into, and pay for college and grad school.
Katzman has served on the Boards of Directors for several for-profit and non-profit organizations, including Carnegie Learning, Renaissance Learning, the National Association of Independent Schools, the Institute for Citizens and Scholars, and the National Alliance of Public Charter Schools. He has helped launch several other education technology companies, invested in many others, and authored or co-authored five books and many articles on K-12 and higher education.
“John brings a unique breadth of knowledge and entrepreneurial know-how that will aid in our mission to reinvent the liberal arts,” Levine said. “His guidance will prove invaluable as we design an even more salient education for our students and elevate Brandeis as a model for other institutions.”
