Dear Faculty, Staff and Students,

I hope you had an enjoyable summer. Let me be among the first to welcome all returning members of our community back “home” to Brown. And to those for whom this semester will be your first to work, study and live at Brown, welcome to this wonderful community. Over the past week, it has been exciting to see students returning to campus and connect with faculty and staff as you prepare for the fall semester. I am writing to reflect on accomplishments of the past year, and share plans for the year ahead that will advance Brown’s rigorous and high-impact scholarship and research, and support our community.

Before I do so, I would like to extend an invitation to you to join Brown’s 260th Opening Convocation, which marks the beginning of the 2023-24 academic year. It will take place at 4 p.m. Tuesday, September 5, on the College Green and will feature a keynote address from Kim Cobb, Director of the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, and Professor of Environment and Society and Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences. Please join us for this joyous beginning to our new school year.

Accomplishments of the Past Year

As I consider the many accomplishments of our community, I can’t help but think of Brown’s mission of “discovering, communicating and preserving knowledge and understanding in a spirit of free inquiry” and preparing students for “lives of usefulness and reputation.” It is a privilege to work alongside faculty, staff and students who advance this mission every day.

Our commitment to excellent, high-impact research and scholarship is demonstrated by the many accomplishments of our faculty members and the staff who work alongside them. To name but a few, over the past year:

• Three Brown faculty members were the recipients of Fulbright awards, another captured the National Book Critics Circle Award, and yet another was named as a Guggenheim fellow.
• Innovative digital scholarship created by Brown faculty and Library staff was recognized by the Association of American Publishers with a Professional and Scholarly Excellence Award for the best e-product, a testament to the growing impact of digital publications.
• Brown researchers analyzed sea ice motion in the Arctic Ocean that could lead to greater clarity about how climate change is altering the fastest warming part of the globe. And, a Brown alumnus will lead the investigation of a lunar landing mission to study volcanic activity on the Moon – a mission first proposed by Brown scientists.
• Researchers at the Carney Institute for Brain Science studied blood samples for biological signs of disease and dementia, expanding possibilities of non-invasive diagnostics. And supported by a $15 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health, Brown researchers are collaborating with colleagues across the country on strategies to reduce the national suicide rate.

Our students have also been recognized for their accomplishments. Last year, 35 Brown students and recent alumni were named Fulbright scholars, and will be teaching and researching in 25 countries around the world this fall. One Brown student received a Marshall Scholarship, one received a Schwarzman Scholarship, and four Brown students were named Goldwater scholars. And one Brown engineering Ph.D. student earned a fellowship from the National Science Foundation to analyze significant challenges of drone aerodynamics.

Brown students have also broken ground in athletics. One became the first female athlete in NCAA Division I history to play varsity baseball, and Coach Kia McNeill led the Brown Women’s Soccer team to its third back-to-back Ivy League championship. I could not be prouder of these, and other, extraordinary student-athletes.

Priorities for the Year Ahead

The work of advancing Brown’s mission of high-impact scholarship and research within a strong, diverse and inclusive community will continue in the year ahead.

I am especially excited about two priorities: (1) Brown’s standing as a leading research university and (2) Amplifying Brown’s commitment to diversity.

Brown’s Standing as a Leading Research University:

Over the past year, we have made substantial progress in Brown’s plans to grow high-impact research and scholarship across all disciplines, including bolstering systems, structures, staffing and partnerships. In November of 2022, Brown and our two major health system partners, Lifespan and Care New England, formally agreed to align research operations in a unified enterprise that will collectively strengthen research efforts. This partnership will support research that will improve health in Rhode Island and across the country and the world.

In the coming year, we will continue to support investments in research administration and infrastructure, including additional support for faculty applying for and managing grants. We expect to complete the design of the integrated life sciences building and outfit new lab space at 225 Dyer Street (home of the School of Professional Studies), both in Providence’s Jewelry District. After the completion of the renovation of Churchill House and Rites and Reason Theatre, we are moving forward on renovations of Andrews House for the Cogut Institute for the Humanities, further supporting scholarship and research in the humanities.

Post-graduate education is an increasingly important part of the higher education landscape, and we have opportunities to scale and develop excellent master’s and professional education programs that build on Brown’s academic strengths and distinctive educational philosophy. In the coming year, Provost Frank Doyle, along with deans and academic leaders, will lead efforts to expand existing master’s and professional programs, consider additional modalities and degree types in existing programs, and explore new programs that align with Brown’s academic strengths. In recognizing post-graduate education as intrinsic to a strong academic enterprise, we will also strengthen undergraduate education by providing more educational opportunities for students to participate in research while they are undergraduates, and continue that participation from undergraduate to post-graduate education at Brown.

Amplify Brown’s Commitment to Diversity:

Higher education is at the center of a number of social and political concerns, including access and affordability; a backlash against diversity, equity, and inclusion (however defined); and the erosion of academic freedom. The recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling barring race-conscious admissions practices has raised serious concerns about how universities can continue to build communities with the diversity of thought and experience needed to sustain our missions.

This year, it is more important than ever to affirm the value we place on diversity and inclusion and its role in promoting academic excellence, and ensure all Brown students know that they fully deserve to be here. We will also implement lawful plans to build a diverse, talented applicant pool, and increase yields among applicants from historically-underrepresented groups. I am especially excited that, this year, we will launch a college access pipeline program for Providence public school students, which will enroll the first cohort in the summer of 2024.  We will also continue to grow important partnerships with the Community College of Rhode Island, Tougaloo College and other institutions.

The Supreme Court ruling has amplified calls to change admissions practices to promote social mobility and access. Like many colleges and universities, we expect to engage the community in thoughtful, data-informed discussions about the best approaches to continue the pursuit of student body diversity while complying with the law.

Other priorities in the coming year include:

• Launch the Center for Career Exploration: Career support is an important component of preparing students for “lives of usefulness and reputation” after graduation. Earlier this week, we announced the launch of the Brown Center for Career Exploration, replacing the Center for Careers and Life After Brown, commonly known as the CareerLAB. The new center is anchored in Brown’s student-centered learning and will significantly expand career support through personalized advising, one-on-one mentoring and an expansive array of experiential learning opportunities. With more funding for internship and research experiences, additional staffing, new partnerships, and advising tailored to a wider range of defined professional pathways, the center will offer programs that equip Brown graduates for the 21st-century workforce.
• Implement recommendations from the Task Force on the Status of Women Faculty: In May, the task force issued a data-driven analysis and recommendations focused on representation, equity and inclusion. The report documented important areas in which no gender-based differences were found and identified other areas in which Brown can improve. In the coming weeks, I will share more information about immediate actions the University will take to implement recommendations, as well as long-term plans for implementation.
• Ensure Brown’s standing as a leading employer: Brown is proud to be a leader in offering flexible work arrangements that advance employee engagement and satisfaction while also ensuring that all employees regardless of work modality feel supported. The University also recognizes the importance of continuing to provide competitive compensation and benefits. In the coming year, one group will review faculty compensation in comparison to peers and economic benchmarks. Another will continue an analysis of equity in compensation for staff. And a third will review and make recommendations on employee benefits. More information on these efforts will be shared in the coming months.

Community Events and Celebrations

This year, there will be many opportunities to strengthen bonds within and across generations of Brown faculty, staff, students, alumni and parents.

Just next week, at 5 p.m. on Thursday, September 7, at the Pizzitola Sports Center, President Emerita Ruth J. Simmons will visit Brown as part of her book tour for her new memoir, “Up Home: One Girl’s Journey.” We are thrilled to be hosting President Simmons as we begin a new academic year, and I hope you will be able to attend.

Later this fall, we will open The Lindemann Performing Arts Center, providing members of the Brown and Rhode Island communities with opportunities to experience and contribute to innovative artistic work. And, on October 27-29, we will host a Black Alumni Reunion that will bring generations of alumni to campus to celebrate through panels, gatherings and social events focused on the arts, entrepreneurship and advocacy. During this weekend, we will have the opportunity to dedicate the newly renovated Churchill House, home to the Department of Africana Studies and Rites and Reason Theatre.

I wish all of you a wonderful beginning of the fall semester. As always, it is an honor and privilege to serve this extraordinary community. I look forward to all we will accomplish together in the coming academic year.

Sincerely,

Christina H. Paxson
President