Brandeis Alumni, Family and Friends

Celebrating Our Alumni Volunteers

April 7, 2025

In celebration of National Volunteer Week, here are some of the many ways alumni volunteers support students on campus and bring alumni together around the country. 

Alumni are an integral part of the Brandeis community. As leaders in your fields and communities, you are a testament to your Brandeis education and ambassadors for the university out in the world. You also give back to Brandeis in countless ways as volunteers – serving as leaders, mentors, event organizers, and more.

“April is National Volunteer Month, so it’s only fitting that we give a big shout-out to the hundreds of alumni who give their time and talent to Brandeis,” says Patsy Fisher, vice president of alumni relations. “We couldn't offer alumni so many ways to connect with Brandeis and each other without our volunteers.”

National Volunteer Week is also a great time for new volunteers to get involved. No matter your skill set, schedule, or interests, there’s an opportunity to make a difference. Here are just a few options.

Support current students

Alumni routinely share that mentoring students is one of the most rewarding aspects of volunteering for Brandeis. In addition to helping students make the most of their Brandeis education and explore career options, alumni can hone their own leadership skills. You can:

• Offer career advice. You can connect with students interested in your line of work, host a workshop, offer early career advice, or plan a networking event at your company.
• Give a guest lecture. Alumni regularly speak in classes to share their expertise. Plus, alumni take center stage in a new course, called Beyond the Loop Road, designed to help students make the transition from college to the “real world.”
• Serve as a judge for SparkTank, an annual competition in which students pitch their startup ideas, or DEIS Hacks, an annual hackathon in which students team up to tackle problems or needs posed by local nonprofits.

Recruit new students

You can help the university recruit the next generation of Brandeisians by joining the Alumni Admissions Council. These volunteers represent the university to prospective students, parents, school counselors, and teachers. For example, they serve on panels for prospective and newly admitted students.

Lead a regional club or shared interest group

You can plan activities and events for one of 18 regional clubs or 10 shared identity and interest groups.

Clubs are spread across the United States and in Canada, Great Britain, Israel, and China. They host events geared to the interests of area alumni, with programming including faculty talks, social hours, museum visits, and sports events.

Groups connect alumni who share a common identity or interest. They include the Alumni of Color Network, LGBTQIA+ Alumni Network, Arts Alumni Network, Friends of Brandeis Athletics, and more.

Plan a class reunion

Class reunions occur every five years during Alumni Weekend. You can join a committee to plan reunion activities for your class and help spread the word to classmates. In between formal reunions, you can also host a virtual reunion from the comfort of your own home. To learn more or sign up, email alumniweekend@brandeis.edu.

Serve on the Alumni Board

The Alumni Association Board of Directors represents and advances the interests of more than 60,000 alumni to the university’s administration. Members help to set strategic goals for the Alumni Association and fulfill its mission to foster and nurture lifelong relationships between Brandeis and its alumni.

Ready to get involved? Let us know!