Jeff Brenzel '75, a long-time Yale volunteer who was chief executive officer of InterLearn, Inc. -- which created the Great Teachers series of videotaped educational programs -- has been named the executive director of the Association of Yale Alumni (AYA) upon the recommendation of the AYA Board of Governors. He was appointed by President Richard C. Levin. Mr. Brenzel succeeds Eustace Theodore '63, who recently became president and chief executive officer of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education in Washington, D.C.
Mr. Brenzel founded InterLearn to specialize in adult education programming. He worked closely with Mr. Theodore and other AYA staff members for two years to develop a series of videotapes and texts called "Great Teachers at Yale." The series, which has been popular with alumni nationwide, features senior faculty members teaching a topic in their area of specialty. InterLearn also produced the educational series for such universities as Duke, Notre Dame, the University of Chicago and Stanford; the videotape/text series is known collectively as the Great Teachers Library. InterLearn has also pioneered internet-based virtual classroom and distance learning projects in the securities, newspaper and education sectors, all in conjunction with leading national associations.
Mr. Brenzel's volunteer activity at Yale has included serving for 20 years on the Alumni Schools Committee, as director of the Michigan Yale Club and as a delegate to the AYA assembly.
"Jeff was enthusiastically recommended to me by the AYA Board of Governors," said President Levin in announcing Mr. Brenzel's appointment. "He has an outstanding record of involvement with Yale and a set of professional experiences that match the AYA's needs: senior positions with nonprofit associations that are membership-based, and more recently, leadership in a company devoted to adult learning that worked closely with university faculty on campuses across the country."
As an undergraduate at Yale, Mr. Brenzel majored in philosophy and was a member of the Whiffenpoofs during his senior year. After graduating from the University, he pursued a career in nonprofit associations. He was senior vice president of the Michigan State Chamber of Commerce, where he was responsible for membership development, publications and continuing education programs for over 8,000 member firms and 14,000 executives. He had earlier worked in membership services for the National Association of Securities Dealers. In 1989, he left Michigan to pursue a master's degree in moral and political philosophy at the University of Notre Dame. He founded InterLearn, Inc. after earning that degree in 1992.
Mr. Brenzel will begin his new position at the AYA on Jan. 1. Until then, Judy Cole will continue to serve as acting executive director.