Brandeis Alumni, Family and Friends
Why alumni love to volunteer for Brandeis
April 2, 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) 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. Risley volunteers with the Alumni Club of Greater Boston and the LGBTQIA+ Alumni Network.
“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 '24
Noah Risley ’24 (center) 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. Risley volunteers with the Alumni Club of Greater Boston and the LGBTQIA+ Alumni Network.
“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.”
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