The Board of Trustees, composed of up to 50 elected members, is responsible for and is the final authority on all aspects of the university's operations.
The specific functions of the Board of Trustees are reflected by the standing committees of the Board: Academy; Compensation; Executive; Institutional Advancement; Investment; Nominating and Governance; Resources; Risk Management and Audit; Student Experience and Careers.
The Board of Trustees selects the president of the university, who is responsible solely to the board. In addition to the members, the board also includes four faculty and three student representatives. Ex officio members include the president of the Alumni Association and the president of the Faculty Senate.
The officers of the board include chair, vice chairs, treasurer and secretary. The Board of Trustees began in 1947 with George Alpert as its first chair.
News
Photo Credit: Karen Richards Sachs
May 26, 2026
WALTHAM, Mass. -
For trustee Karen Richards Sachs ’83, the inspiration for the largest single alumni gift in Brandeis University’s history is rooted in honoring her mother, whose admiration for the university and its mission left a lasting impression — along with a renewed commitment to Brandeis at a pivotal moment.
The $25 million gift, made with her husband David A. Sachs and announced over the 2026 Commencement weekend, honors Sachs’ mother, Dorothy “Dot” Richards, P’83, and reinforces the university’s investment in the campus and in the student experience.