Andrew Berman
| Andrew Berman | |
 | |
| Name | Andrew Berman |
| Chapter | Beta Epsilon Syracuse University |
| Date Inducted | November 1999 |
| Roll Number | BE 304 |
| Alumni Chapter/Assoc | NYMAAC |
| Honorary Member | |
| Major | Music Composition |
| Birthdate | June 15, 1980 |
| Spouse | |
| Nicknames | |
| Awards | Chapter Service Key (BE 2002, NYMAAC 2013), Lightsaber Award (2001), Best Driver Award (always) |
Andrew Berman (born 15 June 1980) is an Alumnus of Beta Epsilon Chapter at Syracuse University. He is a member of NYMAAC, and he formerly served on the National Staff as Director of Publications and Alumni Relations.
Contents
Early Fraternity Life and Career
Andrew joined the Beta Epsilon Chapter of Phi Sigma Pi in November of 1999 as part of the Nu Class. After five semesters of Active Membership, Andrew graduated in May 2002 and moved to New York. Since graduation, Andrew has attended national events and other smaller interchapter functions, frequently visited Beta Epsilon and served as their Alumni Advisor, participated on the National Membership Development Committee and National Development Committee, joined NYMAAC, and served on the National Staff.
Collegiate Years at Beta Epsilon
At Beta Epsilon, Andrew served on the Service, Historical, Initiation, and Interchapter Committees, holding chair positions on the latter two. Andrew also organized the chapter's ninth Founders Weekend in 2002. Andrew was honored with the Lightsaber Award (a BE thing) in 2001 and the Chapter Service Key in 2002.
Alumni Years and National Involvement
- Grand Chapter: NYMAAC Delegate 2008, 2012-2015; NYMAAC Alternate 2019; National Staff 2010, 2011; Peanut 2002-2005, 2016, 2017
- National Convention: 2002, 2008, 2010-2017, 2019
- Alumni Convention: 2006, 2010-2011 (as National Staff), 2012, 2015-2016
- NYMAAC: Member 2005-present; Secretary/Recruitment 2005-2008; Communications 2008-2009, 2012, 2016-2019; President 2009; Recruitment 2012-2016; CSK 2013
- Phi Sigma Pi Foundation: Member 2010-present; National Staff representative 2009-2011
- Beta Epsilon: Alumni Advisor 2004-present, CSK 2002
- National Philanthropy Ad-Hoc Committee 2014-2015
- National Development Committee 2008-2009, 2012-2014
- NEATO/Tri-Chapter Alumni Weekend: 2007-2010, 2013, 2015-2017
- National Staff: Director of Publications and Alumni Relations 2009-2011
- National Membership Development Committee 2002-2004
Bigs and Littles
Andrew's Big Brother is Shaila Quazi.
Andrew has 3 Little Brothers:
- Dan Bennett, Xi class (spring 2000), graduated May 2002 and currently lives in Connecticut with his wife and fellow brother Sara Bennett (née Rosehill) and their adorable daughter. Dan holds a PhD in genetics from Yale University. Dan is also Lindsay Becker's big.
- Holly Montalbano, Pi class (spring 2001), graduated May 2004 and currently lives in New Jersey. Holly is a graphic designer, occasional potter, and taiko drummer.
- Annabel Lee, Sigma class (spring 2002), graduated May 2005 and currently lives in NYC. Annabel is a pastry chef and has been active in her church, taking trips to the Dominican Republic to participate in relief efforts there.
Andrew is a member of the Bender Family at Beta Epsilon, which has now grown to encompass nearly the entire chapter (he hears). Andrew's descendants at Beta Epsilon refer to themselves as the Things Family. The Things Family contains a "Holly Branch", and sprouting from the Holly Branch is a "Grab-Ass Twig".
Outside the Fraternity
Andrew is originally from Commack, NY (on Long Island) and frequently returns there to visit family. In 2005, he moved to Long Island City (in Queens) where he lived for eight years and where he shared apartments with Brothers Kimberly Smith (née Van Dyke), Lindsay Becker (née Famula), and Kate McConnell. Andrew moved to Brooklyn in 2013.
After graduation, Andrew worked at the now defunct Borders bookstore chain, first in Commack and then in Manhattan (but he did not defunc it). He then spent four years (2006-2009) at a digital marketing agency (Acxiom Digital) before taking a job with the National Staff of Phi Sigma Pi for two years. From 2012 to 2016 he worked in the institutional advancement office at Yeshiva University, and now he is a copy editor at FCB Health. Since 2013, Andrew has been a staff writer for Teaching Music, the magazine of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). Music teachers: look for his byline!
Andrew joined the Lesbian & Gay Big Apple Corps Band in 2005, serving as its Board Secretary for four years. In 2009, Andrew helped found the Queer Urban Orchestra, serving as its Vice President and, currently, President. Andrew attends Lesbian and Gay Band Association conferences regularly, and it is through this organization that he marched in two inaugural parades for President Barack Obama, which made history as the first LGBT organization to march in a presidential inaugural parade. Andrew also joined LGBA in breaking records when they marched roughly 200 strong in the 2008 Greenwich Village Halloween parade in NYC, the largest contingent ever to march in that parade and the largest LGBT band in New York City history.
