Alumni Spotlights are Q&A's with former Brandeis student-athletes, across a myriad of disciplines, as they reflect on their Brandeis experience and how it has shaped their lives today. Read more spotlight features here.
Marlee Nork '19
Sport: Volleyball
Current job: Social Impact Specialist, HHPLIFT
A native of Chicago, Illinois, Markee Nork was a four-year member of the volleyball team at setter, playing in 108 matches and averaging just under five assists per set. She helped the Judges reach the ECAC Tournament semifinals as a junior and to a fifth-place finish in the UAA as a senior. Marlee was a three-time Academic All-UAA team member who graduated in 2019 with a degree in Health: Science, Society and Policy.
As a sophomore, Marlee began interning with HHPLIFT, a Chicago-based award-winning nonprofit & USA Certified social enterprise curating and crafting social impact consumer products and business gifts that help forge economic independence for the artisans and crafters who make them, and the social enterprises that produce them. After graduating, she spent some time as a paralegal, but returned to HHPLIFT in 2020 as a Social Impact Specialist. Among her duties are writing and submitting grant proposals to foundations and corporations with philanthropic initiatives and updating her company’s internal social impact metrics.
What drew you to Brandeis in the first place?
Brandeis just checked all the boxes for me; it was what I was looking for in terms of the balance between academics and athletics, and the proximity to Boston was a wonderful added bonus.
Describe your overall experience as a student-athlete. What does it mean to you now/what did it mean to you while you were an undergraduate?
I can’t imagine having had a college experience without it. Immediately upon arriving at campus, I was surrounded by who was to become my best friends and support system during my time at school. I’m always grateful for having been given the opportunity to represent Brandeis by playing the game I love, but looking back, the memories I hold on to the most are those little moments on and off the court that were only possible through the student-athlete experience. That always sounded so cliche to me, but I’m realizing it more and more in adult life: the wins and losses are certainly important in the moment, but the lessons learned, personal and team growth, and memories that stick with you extend far beyond that.
How did your time as a student and student-athlete at Brandeis prepare you for your career and life after college?
Having been a student-athlete is central to my identity and, just, how I go about my life, day to day. Beyond getting the opportunity to play the game I love everyday, and meet some of my best friends while doing so, I learned, developed, and strengthened skills necessary for the workplace and life beyond athletics.
My time as a student-athlete at Brandeis really showed me how to communicate effectively, work collaboratively, lead, stay organized, stay accountable, and maintain effective time management. Immediately upon arriving to campus, we had the responsibility of (and opportunity to) maintain a balance of multiple things that were important to us in a sustainable and healthy way. Balancing academics, athletics, and other campus groups/activities I was a part of was demanding and, at times, could be overwhelming, but definitely set me up for success.
Do you have any advice for current or future Brandeis Student-Athletes?
Take advantage of all Brandeis has to offer! Academically, athletically, and otherwise, it really is what you make of it and don’t be afraid to dive in head first. If there’s a class you want to take, but it’s outside your major, do it, you might find that it’s something you really love. Lean into other campus activities. And remember to still have fun, stay accountable, and be a good teammate.
What personal or professional accomplishment(s) are you most proud of since you graduated?
Personally and professionally, I’m really proud of the balance I’ve created in my life. Having a work-life balance is something that can be extremely difficult, and I’m so lucky that I’m in a place where I get to work at a job I love, that’s meaningful, while still being able to give energy to my relationships and life outside of work.
How did you get involved with HHPLift in the first place?
I was looking for a pivot and HHPLift gave me the opportunity to combine, though a bit indirectly, a lot of what I studied at Brandeis. We’re a nonprofit employment social enterprise, where I do marketing, social impact development, and grant proposals. I’m incredibly proud of the work we do–and how it directly translates to meaningful impact–and the communities we work with.
-- lightly edited for clarity