Dear Members of the Brown Community,

The Corporation of Brown University recently completed its fall meetings. For those who are new to the community, the Corporation (the name given in the charter of the University, written in 1764) is the University’s highest governing body, with fiduciary oversight of the entire University. The Corporation comprises a Board of Fellows and a Board of Trustees and is responsible for matters of policy and long-term planning. Trustees and fellows represent a broad and diverse range of professions, experiences and perspectives, and are chosen through a variety of processes — including alumni and student elections — but always for their commitment to the University and its mission of education and research. Bound by fiduciary duties of care and loyalty, Corporation members are required to make good-faith decisions in Brown’s best interest.

More information about the trustees and fellows as a whole, biographies of members, and their roles and responsibilities can be found on the Corporation website.

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND PLANNING

The Corporation engages in the work of the University through meetings of committees and as a whole, as well as interaction and discussion with faculty, staff and students. Topics covered at these meetings included a wide range of ongoing initiatives to achieve academic excellence and to advance our mission as a research university.

The Academic Affairs Committee holds an annual discussion in October with the senior academic deans regarding faculty searches and hiring informed by information about the size and composition of the faculty, searches and hiring, reappointment and tenure, and other metrics. The committee also focused on the quality of the undergraduate educational experience, recognizing that Brown’s academic excellence is rooted in its commitment to the liberal arts and sciences, and its distinctiveness grounded in the Open Curriculum. Dean of the College Ethan Pollock and Dean of the Faculty Leah VanWey updated the committee on the yearlong project they are undertaking to consider how we can best support outstanding undergraduate education.

The Committee on Budget and Finance authorized construction of the Lassonde Innovation and Design Hub, a renovation project fully supported by generous philanthropy. When completed, the space will be transformed into a dynamic and central campus hub for applied learning where students from across campus can design, iterate, collaborate and make. The hub will also include active learning studios and research laboratory space, and serve as a home for innovation and design programs in the School of Engineering, emphasizing multidisciplinary engineering approaches to solving real world challenges.

Other committee discussions included briefings on the work of the Office of Equity Compliance and Reporting; updates on academic capital projects such as the William A. and Ami Kuan Danoff Life Sciences Laboratories; important work being led by Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration Sarah Latham to refine and improve the University’s emergency management framework and preparedness; and work being led by Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion Matthew Guterl to develop a recommended framework to sustain the diverse and inclusive community necessary for the successful fulfillment of Brown’s academic mission.

In a strategic discussion session on Friday afternoon, I reported on priorities for the 2025-26 academic year. In addition, we provided an update of our ongoing assessment of the likely impacts of federal actions on the University’s finances in the coming years, and the steps that have been taken to prepare for what promises to be a financially uncertain time. The provost led a series of presentations and a panel discussion featuring faculty leaders of institutes at Brown: Amanda Anderson, Cogut Institute for the Humanities; Kim Cobb, Institute at Brown for Environment and Society; Christopher Moore, Carney Institute for Brain Science; and Brenda Rubenstein, Data Science Institute. Earlier that day, members also heard initial observations from Dean of the College Ethan Pollock and Vice President for Campus Life Patricia Poitevien, leaders who started their positions since the last meeting of the Corporation.

On Thursday evening, members of the Corporation attended the dedication of the Stephen Sondheim Amphitheater on Ruth J. Simmons Quadrangle. The landscape renovation of this historic center of campus was funded by philanthropy and — consistent with the original 1901 plan — created a terraced amphitheater suitable for teaching, performance, social activities and informal gatherings. The renovation also created an accessible route across this major green space in the heart of the University campus as well as an accessible entrance to the first floor of Maxcy Hall, home to the Department of Sociology.

Following the meetings, many members of the Corporation joined members of the Brown community in celebrating the launch of the Thomas J. Watson Jr. School of International and Public Affairs. The recommendation to establish the school was made by the faculty and approved by the Corporation, effective July 1, 2025. Under the leadership of Vascellaro Family Dean John N. Friedman, the school’s faculty, students and staff are well-positioned to expand upon and enhance Brown’s long-standing excellence in globally focused research and teaching.

ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS, ESTABLISHMENT OF ENDOWED POSITIONS AND OTHER ACTIONS

The Corporation formally accepted individual gifts and pledges in the amount of $1 million or more made since the May 2025 meeting. Totaling more than $121 million, these generous commitments provide critical support to a wide range of Brown’s academic priorities. The success of the University depends on gifts of many dollar amounts, and all are essential to fulfilling our academic mission and deeply appreciated.

The trustees and fellows also approved the establishment of a number of endowed positions in recognition of generous gifts having been received. Professorships and named positions established at this meeting include the following:

·       The Professorship in Data Science and Computer Science was established with the generous support of an anonymous donor;
·       The Brown Professorship in Engineering was established with the generous support of an anonymous donor;
·       The McAteer-Hallen IBES Teaching Professorship was established with the generous support of Emily H. McAteer '07 and Edward W. Hallen;
·       The John C. MacMillan Family Professorship was established with the generous support of an anonymous donor;
·       The Buchbinder Family Assistant Professorship was established with the generous support of Chris D. Buchbinder ’94 and Nina M. Buchbinder;
·       The Giuliani RNA Assistant Professorship was established with the generous support of Giammaria Giuliani P'28 and Sabrina Giuliani P'28;
·       The Pedrero Family Provost's Assistant Professorship was established with the generous support of the Pedrero Family Foundation, made possible through the           efforts of Anne M. Pedrero '91, P'24, P'26 and Robert Pedrero P'24, P'26;
·       The Dean's Assistant Professorship for Medicine and Biological Sciences was established with the generous support of an anonymous donor;
·       The Seoam Yoon Se Young Lectureship was established with the generous support of the Seoam Yoon Se Young Foundation made possible by the Korea                   Foundation;
·       The So Family Visiting Professorship was established with the generous support of John So ’87, P’17, P’19, P’23 and Grace So Yue ’88, P’17, P’19, P’23;
·       The Xuan He Assistant Coaching Position for Squash was established with the generous support of an anonymous donor.

The Corporation approved the appointment of the following faculty to named chairs:

·       Gauti Eggertsson, Dupee Family Professor of Social Science;
·       Rich Morales, Jonathan M. Nelson Professor of the Practice of Engineering and Entrepreneurship;
·       John Papay, Walter and Leonore Annenberg Associate Professor of Education Policy;
·       Han Zhang, Young Family Assistant Professor of Sociology and International and Public Affairs;
·       Heeyeong Jung, Yoon Se Young Assistant Teaching Professor of Korean Language and Literature;
·       Edward Wilson, Provost's Assistant Professor of Neuroimmunology and Brain Science.

The Corporation also approved the naming of the rooftop at the Health & Wellness Center as the Barker Family Terrace, in recognition of a lifetime of generous support from the late Richard C. Barker '57 LHD'09 hon., P'03, P'05.

Also at these meetings, the Committee on Campus Life heard a presentation from the president of the Graduate Student Council and convened discussions with graduate students on Friday morning. The Board of Fellows met with the officers of the Faculty Executive Committee, and new trustees were welcomed to the Corporation. The new trustees are Preetha Basaviah ’91 MD’95, Ami Kuan Danoff, Brickson Diamond ’93, Giammaria Giuliani, Tanya Katerí Hernández ’86, Harry William Holt Jr. ’84, Daniel O’Keefe ’97, and Kathryn D. Thompson Ph.D. ’23. Theresia Gouw ’90 and Sara Leppo Savage ’90 joined the Board of Fellows. Biographical information for these individuals and other members can be found on the Corporation website.

Finally, the Corporation joined the global Brown community in celebrating the awarding of the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences to Peter Howitt, Brown University Professor Emeritus of Economics, and the selection of Professor of International Security and Anthropology Ieva Jusionyte as a MacArthur Fellow. These and other international recognitions serve as a welcome reminder of the superb quality of Brown’s faculty.

Sincerely,

Christina H. Paxson
President