Vandy Hillel is excited to share our Alumni newsletter with you! Scroll to see updates from fellow alumni, and to see what Vanderbilt Hillel has been up to this Spring.
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We would love to hear from you!
Email Shannon Small at shannon.small@vanderbilt.edu
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Bruce Heyman (Class of 1979; MBA 1980) and Vicki Heyman (Class of 1979; MBA 1980)
A Lifelong Bond Forged at Vanderbilt.
Bruce and Vicki Heyman’s story begins where many enduring friendships and lifelong connections are made—on the Vanderbilt University campus. The two met during the first week of their freshman year and formed a bond that would carry them throughout their lives. Bruce and Vicki completed their Vanderbilt undergraduate degrees in 1979 and both enrolled in the Owen graduate school of business, receiving their MBAs in 1980. They were married just after graduation.
Bruce’s career took him from the world of high finance to the global stage. Starting at Goldman Sachs in 1980 as a Chicago-based investment banker, he rose through the ranks to become a Vice President (1985–1999), then a Managing Director in private wealth management (1999–2014), and ultimately a Goldman partner in 2004. His journey took a diplomatic turn in 2014 when he was appointed by President Barack Obama as the United States Ambassador to Canada, a role he served in until 2017. His passion for diplomacy and the U.S.-Canada relationship led to him to co-author, with Vicki, The Art of Diplomacy: Strengthening the Canada-U.S. Relationship in Times of Uncertainty (2019), reflecting on their shared experiences in Canada during his ambassadorship.
Most recently in 2024, Bruce became the CEO of Power Sustainable, a North American asset management firm focused on renewable energy.
While Bruce built a career in finance and diplomacy, Vicki carved a path deeply rooted in service, art, and advocacy. She began her career in foreign currency sales at Banker’s Trust Co., but shifted her focus to philanthropic work in children’s health, arts and education in Chicago after the birth of their son, David. Her passion for civic engagement also led her to a pivotal role in political fundraising—serving as one of the co-chairs for President Obama’s 2012 campaign and leading the Obama finance efforts for Illinois.
As a cultural envoy during Bruce’s ambassadorship in Canada, Vicki immersed herself in cultural diplomacy and the arts forging cross-border connections between Canada and the United States. She and Bruce led voter engagement initiatives for Americans living in Canada and abroad during the 2020 and 2024 presidential elections.
Though Bruce and Vicki’s lives have taken them from Nashville to Chicago, Ottawa and beyond, their connection to Vanderbilt remains strong. Their family includes many Vanderbilt alumni and Hillel participants, including their two daughters Liza and Caroline Heyman, Vicki’s sister Gwen and niece Shelly Mcallion, her brother Spencer Simons and her brother-in-law Richard Heyman and nephew Sam Heyman making Commodore pride a family affair.
Reflecting on their Jewish life at Vanderbilt in the late 1970s, Bruce and Vicki recall a time when the Jewish student population made up just 3% of the campus community. With Hillel not yet a central presence, social and religious life was centered around Jewish fraternities like ZBT and AEPi, as well as warm, welcoming homes in the Nashville Jewish community where students gathered for Shabbat and holidays.
Decades later, the friendships they built during those formative years remain close and meaningful. Some of those same friends served with them on the Vanderbilt Hillel Board—proof that the connections forged in college can ripple across generations.
As the world continues to shift in uncertain ways, Bruce and Vicki remain hopeful. “We want the Jewish community at Vanderbilt to feel safe, cared for, and supported,” they say. “The relationships and memories we built here are among the most important in our lives—and we carry that with us always.”
If you like to contact Vicki or Bruce, please email Shannon Small at shannon.small@vanderbilt.edu.
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Sami and Robby Cohen, Class of 2016
It’s hard to imagine that we graduated almost 9 years ago in 2016. We fondly remember Falafel at Midnight and Hillel Seders - it feels like yesterday!
After getting engaged in 2019, we finally got married in Nashville in 2022 (thanks Covid) with Ari as our officiant! We moved, with our dog, Banzo, from San Francisco to Chicago in 2023, and bought a condo in Roscoe Village. Currently, Robby works as a software engineer at Block working on CashApp and Sami is a program manager at Johnson and Johnson working on surgical robotics.
In October 2024, we welcomed the best little bundle of joy, Asher, to our family. The simplest things bring out his biggest smiles and giggles, and he inspires us every day. He loved dressing up as Scooby Doo for his first Purim party! If you would like to contact Sami and Robby, please email Shannon Small at shannon.small@vanderbilt.edu.
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- For the Thank-a-thon with the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville, students made phone calls to thank the Jewish Federation donors for their support. The Jewish Federation supports Hillel through Passover meals, Israel programming, Social programming, and more.
- Students enjoyed the lovely spring weather helping our Tikkun Olam Board build, paint and fill our new planter with fresh herbs and fruit.
- Miznon collaborated with Vanderbilt’s Culinary Club to host a dialogue dinner at Hillel. Students gathered for a multi-course meal and engaged in dinner table conversations of how food connects us to our community and home. (See picture above)
- Vanderbilt Hillel loves to celebrate the joy of Purim in ways that students have never experienced before. This year, students celebrated Purim on the “Purim Party Bus." (See picture above)
- This spring, Vanderbilt Hillel students took part in meaningful Israel engagement both on and off campus. A group of students attended Hillel International’s Israel Summit in Chicago, joining over 500 pro-Israel student leaders and advocates. The summit focused on advocacy, hostage education, and Jewish identity. Our students are now part of Hillel’s Israel Leadership Network and are bringing that energy back to campus.
On campus, Israel Week featured a range of events, including:
- A thought-provoking talk with Egyptian peace activist Dalia Ziada (See picture above)
- Falafel at Midday on Greek Row (plus our popular Falafel t-shirts!)
- A Krav Maga workshop with Ziv Shemesh from the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville
- A lively Israeli Shuk at Hillel, complete with food, crafts, and cultural experiences
It was a week full of learning, pride, and community — and a testament to our students’ leadership and love for Israel.
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| Annual Fundraiser:The Roast of Ari Dubin
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On Sunday, February 23, Vanderbilt Hillel paid tribute to a beloved leader and community figure, Ari Dubin, as he marked 20 remarkable years as Executive Director of Vanderbilt Hillel. Titled "The Roast of Ari Dubin," the evening was a delightful mix of lighthearted teasing and heartfelt honors for a man who has dedicated himself to nurturing Jewish life on campus. The fundraising event featured an array of humorous anecdotes and affectionate roasts from staff, friends, and students - both current and former - all while honoring Ari's invaluable contributions. A video with highlights from the program can be viewed on the Vanderbilt Hillel website here.
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| Coming up soon with Vandy Hillel
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