Brandeis Alumni, Family and Friends
Why alumni love to volunteer for Brandeis
April 6, 2026
During National Volunteer Week, we celebrate alumni who give their time and talent to their alma mater
Serving as mentors. Organizing reunions or regional events. Talking to prospective students. Helping first-year students move into their dorms. The ways that alumni volunteer for Brandeis vary as much as the alumni themselves.
The reasons they volunteer differ, too. But there are common themes: community, connection, gratitude, and a love of Brandeis.
“The hundreds of volunteers who give their time and talent to Brandeis each year are vital to our ability to offer alumni so many ways to connect with the university and each other,” said Karen Rogol ’98, assistant vice president of alumni relations. “We appreciate our volunteers every single day, but we want to give them an extra big shoutout during National Volunteer Week this month.”
We asked several alumni who regularly volunteer for Brandeis why they give their time, expertise, and dedication to their alma mater.
Noah Risley ’24
Noah Risley ’24 (center) volunteers with the Alumni Club of Greater Boston and the LGBTQIA+ Alumni Network. They recently organized the “Alumni Spotlight: Careers in Local Government and Networking” event. Pictured is Risley with current and former members of the Brandeis Democrats club: (from left) Ishaan Bhatia ’22, Luke Farberman ’27, Naomi Stephenson ’26, and Zach Duvel ’26.
“I volunteer because I love Brandeis and the people. Simple as that. It might sound cheesy, but it’s also true. For example, I want to give a shoutout to Max Notis ’12, who I met when I was a student working Alumni Weekend. We hit it off and talked for basically an entire night. I always remembered him as ‘that nice guy’ from the weekend.
“Fast forward to freshman move-in day last fall, and I see that Max is going to be a volunteer too! So we catch up, and he’s just as kind as ever. Then we both get invited to be guest speakers for the Beyond the Loop Road class. While chatting with students, Max and I realized how similar our journeys have been. Now I’m happy to call him a friend. So, yes, the people you meet volunteering with Brandeis are like no other community around.”
Carissa Ramkissoon, MBA’09
Carissa Ramkissoon, MBA’09, is co-president of the Alumni Club of Great Britain and has represented Brandeis at the largest annual U.S. college fair in Europe for more than 10 years. She’s pictured at the Alumni Club of Great Britain’s 37th Annual Thanksgiving Tea in London, which she has helped organize since 2017.
“I initially volunteered because I was asked if I could help out with a college fair, and I’ve been helping ever since. It has been a nice way to stay connected with other alums and to give back to the university. I also feel a deeper connection to Brandeis when I volunteer. It is part of who I am now, not just something I did in the past. My children have also attended some of the events, and they feel part of Brandeis as well. It is truly a family affair, which I love.”
Shakiva Pierre ’07
Shakiva Pierre ’07 has served as a mentor for COMPACT and volunteers for the Hiatt Career Center and the Alumni Club of New York Region. When Pierre was sworn into the U.S. Supreme Court Bar this past December, she made it her mission to take a photo in front of the portrait of Justice Louis Brandeis.
“Brandeis encouraged critical thinking, civic engagement, and a responsibility to give back in me. Volunteering felt like a natural way to stay connected to the community that helped shape my journey while helping open doors for others.
“As an alumna of color, remaining involved with the university is particularly meaningful to me. Representation matters, especially for students who may be navigating spaces where they do not always see people who share their background. Being present allows me to help create connections and, as a lawyer, remind students that there are many pathways to success in the legal profession. Whether it is helping organize alumni gatherings or speaking with students about the legal profession, these experiences reinforce the strong sense of connection that continues to define the Brandeis community.”
Vic Ney ’81, P’11
Vic Ney ’81, P’11 is a former president of the Alumni Club of New York Region and co-chairs his class reunions. He’s pictured with the Justice Louis Brandeis statuette he received in recognition of his service to the Alumni Association.
“About 30 years ago, the Alumni Club of New York Region wasn’t as lively as it should have been. I had been lamenting this to the head of Alumni Relations, and he said, ‘Well, why don’t you do something about it?’ Truly the appropriate reply! Even further back than that, one of my close classmates Yehuda Cohen ’81 had urged me to get involved with the Alumni Association because of how much Brandeis had enriched our lives. So I became president of what was then called the Alumni Club of New York City and helped revitalize an important cornerstone of the Alumni Association.
“Since our graduation, Elizabeth Jick ’81, P’09, P’12, and I have co-chaired nearly every single one of our reunions. I immensely enjoy the task, in part because I love the outreach to classmates. In fact, for one of our reunions I called about 200 classmates. Whether I just left a voicemail or actually spoke with them, it was a heartwarming, wonderful experience. Some of my classmates are among my closest friends, even these many years after our graduation. They enrich my life beyond words.”