Alumni Events

Heller Alumni Association Board Member Isaac K. Cudjoe, MA COEX'18 and Adam Motenko, MBA'16, hosted DC-area alumni for a painting event Nov. 16.

Students and alumni mingled during Alumni Networking Night on Nov. 14

Heller Board of Advisors Member Charles Nalyaali, MA SID'98, and MS GHPM Program Director AK Nandakumar hosted a get-together for alumni in Uganda.

DEAN DAVID WEIL AND THE WORKERS LAB CEO CARMEN ROJAS DURING THE FIRST "CONVERSATION OF THE DEAN" OF HELLER'S 60th ANNIVERSARY SCHOOL YEAR.

Former Heller professor Walter Leutz, PhD'81, was one of the alumni who attended Heller's bi-annual muffin breakfast, sponsored by the Heller Alumni Association.

Democratic National Committee Chair and former U.S. Secretary of Labor Tom Perez discusses his life and career, his thoughts on progressive politics and his strategy for advancing Democratic candidates in 2020 with Dean David Weil.

Impeachment, treason and the complexities of special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation dominated the conversation as Chuck Rosenberg, former senior FBI official, U.S. Attorney and DEA administrator, visited the Heller School for a “Conversation with the Dean” on January 23.

Jeanette Takamura, PhD’85, Heller Alumni Association Board member, hosted a dinner in the Ginza area of Tokyo, Japan for prospective students and alumni.

Africa Night included a panel discussion and debate, live music, dance, poetry, oratory, free food, fashion show, hip-hop, student-produced documentary, live theater, and performances by emerging artists from the Heller community.

2019 Heller Award winners with Dean Weil. From left: Dean Weil, Prof. Joel Cutcher-Gershenfeld, PhD student Alexandra Kritikos, Scientist Rachel Sayko Adams, Associate Director for Academic Affairs and Innovation Marc Kiredjian, Bria Price, MPP'19 and Meghna Kanthan '22

Heller alumni gathered at the 16th Annual Washington, DC Alumni Reception to reconnect with old friends and professors, hear from Dean Weil and share their expertise with current students.

Cupcakes for everyone! Students, faculty and staff celebrated Heller's No. 7 ranking in social policy from US News & World Report with tasty blue treats at our Heller Town Hall.

Activist and Kennedy School lecturer Marshall Ganz described his experiences learning "the craft of organizing," first as a volunteer with the Mississippi Summer Project of 1964 and later in his work with #CesarChavez and the National Farm Workers Association in California.

Professor Joel Cutcher-Gershenfeld led a panel on "Negotiation & Conflict Resolution in the Trump Era." Negotiation experts discussed Trump's unpredictability, use of private sector tactics in the public sector and the challenges of moving society forward in an age of tribalism.

Heller students came together for International Mother Language Day, dressing in traditional clothing from countries around the world and dancing and singing in front of a large audience of Heller community members.

We're excited to share a great slate of events throughout our 60th anniversary year. Make sure to update your information to receive emails about upcoming events! Be sure to use the hashtag #Heller60for60 if you attend and post about any of our anniversary events.

Upcoming Events:

Ford Hall Event January 21-22, 2020

Ford Hall: Closing the Disparity Gap
January 21-22, 2020

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the Ford Hall anniversaries, Sankofa Community Conversations presented by the Heller Office of Equity, Inclusion and Diversity offers a day two event, titled "Ford Hall: Closing the Disparity Gap."

Tuesday, January 21, 5:00-7:00 pm, Zinner Forum - "Ford Hall Commemorative Community Discussion & Film" with Kwesi Jones '21.

Wednesday, January 22, 12:00 -2:00 pm, Zinner Forum - "Revisiting the 'N-Word': Intent vs. Impact in Communication" presented by Liz Pryor, Associate Professor of History at Smith College followed by "Charge to Remember" presented by Heller PhD candidate Jarvis Williams.

How the 2020 Election Could Change Healthcare for a Generation

Thursday, January 30, 2020, 6:00-8:00 pm, Goulston & Storrs, 400 Atlantic Ave, Boston, MA

Candidates are running on a platform of change, specifically in the way our nation delivers and pays for health care. As the 2020 elections approach, join us to hear from a panel of experts who will outline and discuss the major healthcare policy challenges and opportunities and their potential impact on our country, our commonwealth, and ourselves.

Panelists:

Dr. Carole Allen, Executive MBA’17, Vice President, Massachusetts Medical Society
Michael Doonan, PhD’02, Associate Professor and Director, Masters of Public Policy Program
Cindy Friedman, Massachusetts State Senator

Moderator: Elana Margolis ’97, senior director of state government and regulatory affairs, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusett

Hosted by: Doug Rosner ’88, Goulston & Storrs, Boston, MA

RSVP by Monday, January 27. Read full biographies.

SAVE THE DATE: Heller School 17th Annual Washington, DC Alumni Reception

Thursday, February 20, 2020, Evening Time TBD, (Venue TBD)

Save the date and join Heller alumni, students, faculty, and staff to socialize, reconnect, network and enjoy light refreshments. Our annual Washington, DC event promises a great crowd every year and you won't want to miss it! More information to follow in the coming weeks.

Heller 60th Anniversary Celebration

June 5-7, 2020

Heller’s 60th Anniversary celebration will be held in conjunction with the Brandeis Alumni Weekend on June 5-7, 2020. There have been and will be many events throughout the year, leading up to this culminating celebration. This will allow us to join Heller friends and alumni with the wider Brandeis community to mark Heller’s 60th year.

On Friday, June 5 we will begin the festivities with various activities including a talk by Haile Menkerios '70 (former Special Representative of the UN Secretary General to the African Union) and a Heller reception that night.
On Saturday June 6, Heller will host a full day of programming on our anniversary theme, “Closing the Disparity Gap,” and a keynote address by our very own Professor Anita Hill. Saturday will culminate in an evening reception and dinner event including remarks from President Ron Liebowitz, Provost Lisa Lynch and special speakers and honorees.

Keep an eye out for a full schedule and registration information in early 2020!

Previous Events:

2020

Understanding the Opioid Crisis: A Timely Discussion with Heller School Faculty Member Andrew Kolodny, MD in Hollywood, FL

January 12, 2020

The United States is in the midst of an opioid crisis: More than 100 Americans die every day from overdosing on opioids. Dr. Andrew Kolodny, Heller School faculty member, medical director for OPRC, a national expert on the opioid crisis and an outspoken critic of Purdue Pharma and other opioid makers, discussed how a flood of prescription opioids resulted in an epidemic of addiction and what’s needed to bring the crisis to an end.

Heller School Student and Alumni Social in NYC

January 9, 2020

The Career Development Center and the Department of Alumni Relations gathered with alumni and current students for drinks and hors d’oeuvres as we laugh, converse, and enjoy a night of Heller in NYC. Come support current students as they explore some of the worlds most important international, governmental, non-profit, and non-governmental organizations.

The Joy of Negotiating: Responsible First Moves to Empower Yourself and Others in Deal-Making and Conflict Resolution in India

January 5, 2020

Welcoming remarks: Ravi Lakshmikanthan, MA SID'99, Assistant Dean, Academic and Student Services

Presentation by: Alain Lempereur, SJD, Director, MA in Conflict Resolution and Coexistence Program

Ravi Lakshmikanthan and Alain Lempereur were in Mumbai, India and hosted this event to bring together Brandeis and Heller alumni and prospective students. Alain Lempereur, who wrote "The First Move. A Negotiator’s Companion," a bestseller that sold tens of thousands of copies in 15 languages, presented a series of first moves to invite you to do first things first in negotiation, increase your power as a negotiator and also enjoy everyday dealmaking and conflict resolution.

Heller School Coffee Hour in Kigali, Rwanda!

January 4, 2020

Sarah LaMorey, MA SID/COEX'19, Program Coordinator, Graduate Program in Conflict Resolution and Coexistence, hosted alumni and prospective students at the Camellia Restaurant in Kigali, Rwanda.

Heller School Coffee Hour in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania!

January 2, 2020

Sarah LaMorey, MA SID/COEX'19, Program Coordinator, Graduate Program in Conflict Resolution and Coexistence, hosted alumni and prospective students at the Holiday Inn in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

2019

Fall Semester

September 19, 2019, Conversation with the Dean: Carmen Rojas, CEO and Co-Founder, The Workers Lab, came to Heller for the first Conversation with the Dean of Heller’s 60^th anniversary school year. She and Dean David Weil discussed ways to improve the lives of U.S. workers, and she offered a critique of traditional philanthropy, described the innovative methods of the Workers Lab and shared her own background and journey. The Workers Lab collaborated with Heller's Institute on Assets and Social Policy earlier this year on an occupational segregation report titled, "Not Only Unequal Paychecks: Occupational Segregation, Benefits, and the Racial Wealth Gap."
September 25, 2019, Student Coffee Break: The Heller Alumni Association welcomed new and returning students by inviting them to enjoy coffee and the legendary muffins from the Gingerbread Construction Co.
October 7, 2019, Heller School Coffee Hour in New Delhi, India: Featuring Allyala Krishna Nandakumar, Professor of the Practice; Director, Institute for Global Health and Development; Director, MS Program in Global Health Policy and Management at Le Meridien Hotel New Delhi, Windsor Place, India.
October 28, 2019: PhD Alumni Panel for a Non-Academic Career Track: The Heller School PhD Student Association welcomed the following alumni to come and present about their career outside of academia.

Pieta Blakely, PhD'17, Blakely Consulting, LLC
Danielle Fuller-Wimbush, PhD'14, Director, Partner Support and Grantmaking, Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC)
Kate Giaponni Schneider, PhD'17, Research Scientist, Heller School
Julie Johnson, PhD'15, Director of Research, Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission

Sponsored by the Office of Development and Alumni Relations and Career Development Center.
October 30, 2019, The Evolution of Conflict Transformation: A Conversation with John Paul Lederach: The COEX program held a panel discussion with the Joseph B. and Toby Gittler Prize Award winner John Paul Lederach. Panelists included Isabella Jean, MA COEX'06, Pamina Firchow, Ted Johnson, and Sandy Jones; moderated by Alain Lempereur, COEX Program Director.

Lederach is Professor Emeritus of International Peacebuilding at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame, where he previously served as director of the Peace Accord Matrix research initiative, and was the founding director for the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University. Lederach works extensively with Humanity United as a practitioner in conciliation processes in Latin America, Africa, and Southeast and Central Asia.

You can learn more about the Gittler Prize on the Brandeis website.
November 1, 2019, Arthur Pollock Legacy Award Event: The Heller School Center for Youth and Communities and The Treehouse Foundation and leaders from across the country discussed re-envisioning foster care in America.

Remarks were given by Prof. Susan P. Curnan, Judy Cockerton, Founder & Director, Treehouse Foundation, andPhyllis N. Segal, Founding Chair, The Eli J. & Phyllis N. Segal Citizen Leadership Program & Vice President, Encore.org

The Keynote address was given by Marc Freedman, Founder & CEO, Encore.org.

Lynn Price, Founder, Camp to Belong, was presented with the Arthur Pollock Legacy Award. The Arthur Pollock Legacy Award honors extraordinary individuals, age 55+, who use their life experience to enhance the lives of our nation’s children and youth living in foster care and promote a Re-Envisioning of Foster Care in America.
November 14, 2019, Student and Alumni Networking Night 2019: Students came to meet, greet, learn from and share community with Heller School alumni, Heller Board of Advisors Members and Heller Alumni Association Board Members who are engaged in wonderful work in healthcare, non-profit management, government, policy, advocacy and non-government organizations. In this moderated program that follows a "speed networking" format, they had conversations and made connections.
November 16, 2019, Heller School Alumni Meetup: Washington, DC: Hosted by: Isaac Cudjoe, MA COEX'18, Heller Alumni Association Board Member, and Adam Motenko, MBA'16. Heller alumni met up for this fun event to socialize and meet alumni from the DC area. The Heller School covered the full cost of this event for alumni attendees and 40% of the event expenses will go back towards the Heller Annual Fund, dedicated to supporting students and their academic experience.
November 19, 2019: Heller MPP alumni gathered for a special event to recognize Janet Boguslaw for all she has done for the Heller MPP Program. She has had many accomplishments as the Associate Director of the MPP program and as the poverty alleviation concentration chair and will continue to work at Heller in a new role. The program is collecting donations in honor of Janet to benefit the MPP summer internship program, of which Janet has been such a champion. Click here to make a gift (please designate “Other” and put MPP Internship Program in the text box).
November 20, 2019, The Lurie Institute for Disability Policy: 2019 Annual Distinguished Lecture: Using Population Data to Inform Autism Policy in the U.S.: Featuring Dr. Paul Shattuck, A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University, who discussed the importance of data in policies that help or hinder quality of life for people on the autism spectrum. In his lecture, Dr. Shattuck shared the development, strategies, and impact of the National Autism Data Center and the Research Program in Life Course Outcomes. Learn more about the Lurie Institute. Watch the full lecture here.
December 5, 2019, Stanley Wallack Distinguished Memorial Lecture: Healthcare in 2021 Ingredients for Change: Featured Speaker: David Blumenthal, MD, President & CEO, The Commonwealth Fund
The 4th Annual Stanley Wallack Distinguished Memorial Lecture was sponsored by the Schneider Institutes for Health Policy. To make a gift to the Stanley Wallack Distinguished Memorial Lecture Series click here.

Spring Semester

Jan. 23, 2019: Conversations with the Dean: Chuck Rosenberg: Impeachment, treason and the complexities of special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation dominated the conversation as Chuck Rosenberg, former senior FBI official, U.S. Attorney and DEA administrator, visited the Heller School for a “Conversation with the Dean” with Dean David Weil.
Jan. 30, 2019: Marshall Ganz described his experiences learning "the craft of organizing," first as a volunteer with the Mississippi Summer Project of 1964 and later in his work with Cesar Chavez and the National Farm Workers Association in California.
Feb. 15, 2019, "Negotiation and Conflict Resolution in the Trump Era": Joel Cutcher-Gershenfeld led a panel of negotiation experts, who discussed Trump’s unpredictability, need for personal gratification, use of private sector tactics in the public sector, as well as lessons learned from labor union negotiations and the challenges of moving society forward in an age of tribalism.
Feb. 20, 2019 in Washington, D.C., 16th Annual Alumni Reception and Career Panels: Heller alumni, students and faculty gathered in Washington, D.C. to share career advice, network and reconnect with old friends.
March 20, 2019, US News Rankings Celebration: Cupcakes for everyone! The community celebrated Heller's #7 ranking in social policy from US News & World Report with tasty blue treats at our Heller Town Hall.
March 20, 2019, International Mother Language Night: Heller students came together for International Mother Language Day, organized by Brandeis Bangladeshi Students Association.
April 1, 2019, Conversations with the Dean: Tom Perez: Democratic National Committee Chair and former U.S. Secretary of Labor Tom Perez joined Dean David Weil for part of the Conversations with the Dean speaker series. The event featured a wide-ranging dialogue on Perez’ life and career, his thoughts on progressive politics and his strategy for advancing Democratic candidates in 2020.
April 3, 2019, Heller Awards 2019: The Heller School presents awards each spring to members of the community for outstanding service in teaching, mentoring, teaching assistance, staff service, research, and equity, inclusion and diversity.
April 5, 2019, MBA Distinguished Management Lecture 2019: Mo Cowan, president of Global Government Affairs and Policy at GE, delivered the 2019 MBA Distinguished Management Lecture.
May 4, 2019: Africa Night is Heller’s annual celebration of African intellectual achievements, cultural heritage and diversity. It included a panel discussion and debate, live music, dance, poetry, oratory, free food, fashion show, hip-hop, student-produced documentary, live theater, and performances by emerging artists from the Heller community.
June 24, 2019, Alumni dinner in Ginza, Tokyo: Jeanette Takamura, PhD’85, Heller Alumni Association Board member, hosted a gathering that included Mutsuhisa Ban, a prospective student, Akiko Mera, MA SID’05, Yuki Kondo, MA SID’14, Hajime Takizawa, MA SID’07, Jeanette C. Takamura, PhD'85, and Ayumu Osawa, MA SID’13.