DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD RECIPIENT

Brandon T. Snider is being recognized for his outstanding accomplishments as a writer, publishing over one hundred books, and as a television writer and performer.   As a Mariemont student, Brandon loved theater and after graduation, attended Coastal Carolina University, graduating with a fine arts degree in theater. Brandon writes books for young readers including the award-winning Dark Knight Manual, Rube Goldberg and his Amazing Machines and upcoming semi-autobiographical Cootie Kid series. Additionally, he's written books featuring Marvel heroes like Spider-Man and Black Panther, plus pop culture icons such as Justice League, Star Wars, and The Muppets.

His hardcover DC Comics Ultimate Character Guide was released in 2011 and reached #4 on Bookscan's list of Best-Selling Graphic Novels in May 2012. He has written the Peter Powers series for Little Brown Books as well as Mighty Marvel Chapter Books and Doodle Books for Disney Publishing. He also wrote the best-selling Dark Knight Manual: Tools, Weapons, Vehicles and Documents from the Batcave; the book is a detailed and personal account of Bruce Wayne's evolution as Batman over the course of his career. It won the 2013 IPPY Award for Pop Culture/Leisure and was also featured in Time Magazine, Forbes, Wired, and Entertainment Weekly.

In New York City, Brandon studied improvisation with Second City and performed sketch comedy as part of the group Rash Behaviour. As an ensemble member of the NY-based theatre company The Collective NY, he worked with comedian Amy Schumer who hired Snider to write for the first season of her Comedy Central show, Inside Amy Schumer. The show earned high ratings in 2013 and went on to win a Peabody Award in 2014. His short play, A Weekend Conference, was directed by Richard Masur (Transparent, The Good Wife), starred Snider, Mike Houston (Orange is the New Black, Sneaky Pete) and Gabe Fazio (Place Beyond the Pines, Homeland) is currently being developed into a full-length play entitled The Retreat. Brandon has appeared on and acted in Inside Amy Schumer, High Fidelity, The Deuce, Bull, Rachel Dratch’s Late Night Snack, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and Law & Order: SVU, as well as various commercials, plays and short films.

Brandon has dedicated his time to helping Ronald McDonald House New York, Little Free Library, and the Trevor Project among other philanthropic organizations. He is also an advocate for inclusion; following the Pulse Nightclub shooting in 2016, he wrote an editorial piece entitled "Bigotry is Not a Difference of Opinion" for the Cincinnati Enquirer and has donated his books to countless organizations to promote childhood literacy and to encourage children to read. Brandon lives in New York City, where he's a member of the Writers Guild of ServAmerica and SAG-AFTRA.