Throughout the summer, we'll be checking in with the Brandeis Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2025. The ceremony will be held in conjunction with Homecoming on October 11, 2025. Registration is now open!
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NAME: Jaime (Capra) Mitchell, Class of 2008
SPORT: Basketball
CURRENT JOB: Head of People Technology & Process, National Grid
Jaime Capra Mitchell, a native of Old Bridge, New Jersey, was part of the most successful run of seasons in Brandeis Women's Basketball history, part of an 82-win senior class that was the second-winningest in school history. She led the team to an ECAC Tournament title as a first-year, then to three-straight NCAA Division III tournament berths. Mitchell was named University Athletic Association Rookie of the Year as a first-year and UAA Co-Player of the Year as a senior, one of just four women's basketball players in league history to win both awards. A two-time WBCA All-American, Mitchell graduated second on the school's career scoring list with 1393 points and first in scoring average among players with more than 50 games played. She's also ninth in career rebounding (558) and 12th in career assists (213).
Since graduating from Brandeis with degrees in American Studies and Legal Studies, Mitchell has worked in Human Resources Operations and Technology across various industries - entertainment and media at NBCUniversal, manufacturing at Whirlpool, as well as tenures with Xerox Corporation and Ticket Gallery. Since May of 2024, she has been the Head of People Technology and Process at National Grid. Mitchell is married with two children.
What attracted you to Brandeis in the first place?
As I was looking at schools, Brandeis really stood out as being able to provide me with both a high-level education as well as an opportunity to play in the UAA and travel to places I'd never been. Meeting my future teammates and the coaches really sealed the deal for me and through my visit, I was able to picture myself being part of the team.
Describe your overall experience as a student-athlete. What does it mean to you now/what did it mean to you while you were an undergraduate?
I loved being a student athlete at Brandeis. It gave me a built-in family to lean on throughout my college experience, not just within my own team, but across other members of the athletic department. I can clearly see how my experience as a student-athlete has shaped how I approach my career, from managing a team, to setting expectations of myself to the way I prepare on a daily basis.
Do you have any advice for current or future Brandeis Student-Athletes?
I would just tell them to really appreciate and enjoy the time they have with their teammates and friends. While I can remember feeling like practices were never-ending, the reality is that those four years at Brandeis flew by. My favorite memories from Brandeis aren't necessarily basketball-related, but they most definitely include the friends I made through playing basketball there.
Do you keep in touch with any of your former Brandeis teammates? How?
Yes, I keep in touch with many of my teammates, other athletes, as well as coaches and administrators within the athletic department through phone calls, texts, and visits; some of them are still my closest friends. Even though we live in different parts of the country, we really make an effort to take turns visiting each other, which has been so special. It's pretty funny to see how our trips have evolved into full-on family affairs, with all of our kids now dictating what fun looks like.
Looking back on your career at Brandeis, do you have any one or two moments that you look back on and cherish?
Honestly, the specifics sort of blend together at this point. I cherish the entirety of the good times we had, traveling together, joking at practice, and celebrating our victories. The one NCAA game that stands out most for me is our comeback win against the University of Southern Maine in my senior year. I think we came back from down 15 points with around 8 minutes to go, and I vividly remember the excitement that erupted on the court and in the locker room after we closed that game out.
Talk about the atmosphere at Brandeis basketball games during the late 2000s.
The atmosphere at games gradually got more exciting throughout my four years. During that time, both the men's and women's teams were really successful, so when we played back-to-back at home, the students really showed up to support, especially when it was one of our rivals within the UAA. It was really special to see that growth and excitement for the sport increase throughout my four years.
What do you think made your teams so successful during that era?
I think it can be largely attributed to the bond that we all formed off the court. We really had such a great time together and truly had each other's backs. That closeness and team mentality spilled into our success on the court, and there was comfort in knowing we all wanted to achieve the same things.
What personal or professional accomplishments are you most proud of since you graduated?
Personally, I'm most proud of the family and home that I've built with my husband, Joey, and our two children Zoey (7) and Brody (4). Our kids are happy and healthy, and that's really all I can ask for. Any accomplishment would feel a lot less meaningful if I didn't have them to celebrate with. My husband also tells me that he's never seen me more proud than when I watch Zoey succeed on the basketball court, so that's probably right up there for me too.
Professionally, leading the People Technology, and Process teams at National Grid has been my biggest accomplishment. I still love being part of a team, and it's been really exciting to have my team at work grow. We're in the midst of deploying a variety of technologies throughout a two-year investment. It's really fulfilling to think that I'm playing a role in helping to support the biggest energy transformation in the company's history, something that will ultimately have a positive impact on the consumers who depend on National Grid for gas and electricity. Funnily enough, one of our headquarters is in Waltham, so my ties to Brandeis really have come full circle.
