With Giving DEISDay coming up on Tuesday, December 1, we spoke with Marianna Golyak, the Associate Director for Donor Recognition and Engagement Programs in the office of Institutional Advancement. Since arriving at Brandeis three years ago, Marianna has worked closely with the Department of Athletics to help engage alumni support. Last year, Brandeis athletics raised more than $50,000 on Giving Tuesday.

Tell us a little bit about your background.

I was born in Kiev, Ukraine, and came to the U.S. when I was eight years old as a Jewish refugee, living the majority of my childhood in Brookline, Massachusetts. I went to Northeastern University for my undergraduate degree in International Affairs and French, then did some traveling, including spending time working for a peace organization in Israel. After this experience, I went back to Northeastern and obtained my Master’s degree in Global Studies and International Affairs, with a concentration in Nonprofit Management. Since then, I have worked and volunteered for a number of nonprofits specializing in social justice, the arts, humanitarian efforts, research, and education. 

What is your main role at Brandeis?

I am lucky to be a part of the Institutional Advancement Division at Brandeis.  I raise funds for the University and do my best to ensure that Brandeis alumni, family, and friends feel good about their support of our students and programs. 

How did you first get involved with fundraising and the behind-the-scenes aspect at a University setting? 

I have always been grateful for the help my family and I received from the Jewish community when we came to the U.S., and I wanted to thank this community by giving back. After the time I spent in Israel, I felt even more inspired by the difference I could make in people’s lives. I started working in the nonprofit sector about eight years ago, mainly at Jewish organizations in New York City. I landed at Brandeis about three years ago when I moved back to Boston to be closer to family. My position as a frontline fundraiser gives me the opportunity to meet a myriad of interesting people who care about this institution. I love hearing their stories and connecting them to Brandeis through their philanthropy.

Tell us a bit about your involvement specifically with athletics over the years. 

When I started at Brandeis, I began working with athletics to help raise money for the department. Interacting with alumni-athletes is one of the highlights of my job; they really know how to have a good time! I love their school spirit, how close they remain to one another, and their dedication to Brandeis and their individual teams. That sense of camaraderie is truly inspiring and motivates me to do a good job for them every day. 

What is Giving DEIS-Day? Why is it so important in the big picture? 

Giving DEISday is an opportunity for Brandeisians to participate in a digital fundraiser on the international day of philanthropy (December 1). This year Giving DEISday is more important than ever. COVID-19 has created distance between us, but I know that the Brandeis community remains strong and committed to supporting our students and each other. Giving back to Brandeis on Giving DEISday is a way for us to show that we as a community can come together despite the challenges we are facing. This is especially true for the athletics community, who have stepped up this year, and have found meaningful ways to connect with one another during these unprecedented times. 

What are your interests beyond Brandeis?

Apart from spending time with family, I keep busy volunteering. I am on the Board of Arlekin Players Theatre, an immigrant theatre company in Boston which has recently seen a lot of success as it pivoted to produce virtual theatre in the midst of the COVID pandemic. I also volunteer for an organization called Beat the Odds which is dedicated to serving under-resourced youth in Boston’s low-income communities to encourage mental health and healing from trauma through music and the arts.