Amaris Brown ’16

Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Majors: Sociology and Psychology

Her Campus: How did you become interested in your majors?
Amaris Brown: I love psychology because it is the study of the individual, and sociology compliments my interest in Psych, as it analyses how that individual interacts with the rest of society. 

HC: What clubs are you involved in on campus?
AB: I am an MLK scholar and was an active member of the club last year. I do serve as a Co-President of WOCA (the Women of Color Alliance).

HC: What’s the best and worst part of being president of WOCA?
AB: I can tell you the best and worse part of being President of WOCA: the Best aspect is being in the presence of such phenomenal, empowering women. The women who attend WOCA meetings give me much more than I could ever give them, by facilitating dialogue and organizing events; my goals as a president are always surpassed by what we come up with as a group. They are vibrant, intelligent and beautiful. The worst part about being president, is wishing that we would broaden our WOCA family to have more attendees, though we are blessed with the family that we already have.

HC: Tell us about your upcoming trip to Israel. 
AB: Whilst I know this will be an amazing experience, I more excited about the dialogue that will be formed between the Bridges fellows. We wanted to bridge the Black and Jewish communities as we felt there was a social disconnect and a need for increased cultural awareness and sensitivity on both sides.

HC: What are the goals of the trip?
AB: Once again, it’s not so much the goals of the trip as it is the goals of our initiative and mission statement—to bridge the Black and Jewish communities and create an environment in which the participants understand each other better, and bond over what brings us together, as opposed to what separates us. We hope to engage in a better understanding of each other’s cultural narratives and share our individual stories as members of either the Black or Jewish communities, as well Brandeis students.

HC: Tell me about something else you are involved in on campus. How did you get involved and what do you like about it?
AB: I am a member of the Brandeis Women’s Volleyball Team. I’ve been playing since I was in middle school, and fell in love with the sport. Being on a team forces you to interact with various personalities that all contribute to your growth as a teammate and individual. I love working hard and seeing that work pay off in sweat and pride. Volleyball is a huge commitment, but I wouldn’t give it up for the world.

What’s your favorite…
Movie: Finding Nemo. I can watch it in any mood and it’s always uplifting and enjoyable; plus my niece and nephew love it!
TV Show: Scandal… there is no question about that.
Favorite food on campus: Probably the sushi. It’s the only thing I eat consistently besides making my own salad.
Favorite class you’ve taken at Brandeis: The Real American Idols: Education through Creativity and Theatrical Pedagogy. It’s taught by Jennifer Cleary and has been full of surprises and well worth the three hours.
Pet peeve: Loud chewers… It all started with my brother, a bag of chips and a long car ride.
Best off-campus date idea: Hitting up The House of Blues, and maybe just doing some wandering in hopes of stumbling across a great restaurant. In my experience, some of the greatest dates are unplanned—they deliver the most unexpected events, and create the best memories. 

• brandeis