Brandeis undergraduate Zac Gondelman ’26 named Truman Scholar
April 18, 2025
For the second year in a row, a Brandeis undergraduate has been awarded a Truman Scholarship, the premier graduate scholarship for aspiring public service leaders in the United States.
Zac Gondelman ’26 has been named a 2025 Truman Scholar, one of just 54 students selected nationwide. He was chosen from a pool of 743 candidates nominated by 288 colleges and universities through a rigorous process that included recommendations from federal judges, university presidents, elected officials, and other distinguished leaders.
“I am honored, humbled and beyond grateful to be named the 12th Truman Scholar in Brandeis’ history,” said Gondelman, who plans to pursue a career in public service “at the intersection of civic engagement, education, public communication and faith outreach,” he explained.
Truman Scholars are chosen for their outstanding leadership potential, a commitment to a career in government or the nonprofit sector, and academic excellence. Each Truman Scholar receives funding for graduate studies, leadership training, career counseling, and special internship and fellowship opportunities within the federal government.
Gondelman’s demonstrated leadership includes a stint as an intern in the Biden-Harris White House, after which he returned to Brandeis while working part-time as an advance associate in the administration, helping to design and implement presidential events globally. He has also worked to build civic engagement and expand diversity initiatives in synagogues and educational institutions across the country.
Photo Credit: Adam Schultz/Biden White House Photo Office
“I seek to build systems and civic infrastructure that meet folks where they are — in our schools, synagogues and community centers, and I believe we must do it with language and values folks understand and love,” Gondelman said. “I am most honored to be joining a long line and network of public servants and change makers who seek to move our country forward.”
Established by Congress in 1975 as the living memorial to President Harry S. Truman and a national monument to public service, the Truman Scholarship carries the legacy of the 33rd President by supporting and inspiring the next generation of public service leaders, according to the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation. Previous Truman Scholars include U.S. national security advisers Susan Rice and Jake Sullivan; U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch and Senators Chris Coons and Andy Kim.
