Dear Members of the Brown Community,

Following the recent announcement that Provost Richard M. Locke will depart from his role in December, I am writing to share news regarding the search process for his successor.

The Provost is the chief academic officer of the University and works closely with members of the Brown community and me to advance the institution’s mission of teaching, research and service. The Provost is responsible for ensuring academic excellence and advancing key academic priorities; leading a collaborative budgeting process; and strengthening diversity, equity, and inclusion in partnership with colleagues. The Provost works closely with academic leaders at Brown who are responsible for the oversight and success of academic departments, research centers and interdisciplinary institutes and for overseeing the operations of the College, Graduate School, School of Engineering, School of Professional Studies, School of Public Health and Warren Alpert Medical School.

I will chair a search committee, which will be composed of the following members:

• Anna Aizer, Professor of Economics
• Jennifer Friedman, Professor of Pediatrics and Professor of Epidemiology
• Nicole Gonzalez Van Cleve, Associate Professor of Sociology
• Lawrence Larson, Professor of Engineering
• Brian Meeks, Professor of Africana Studies
• Govind Menon, Professor of Applied Mathematics (Past FEC Chair)
• Jack Mustard, Professor of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences and Professor of Environment and Society
• Melinda Rabb, Professor of English
• Sohini Ramachandran, Professor of Biology and Professor of Computer Science

Marguerite Joutz, Chief of Staff to the President, will staff the search committee.

Members of the Brown community will have opportunities to engage in the search process and convey their views on the opportunities, challenges and priorities ahead, as well as key qualities and experiences to seek in the next Provost.

More information, including a position description, will be provided in the coming weeks. I want to extend my gratitude in advance to the members of the search committee for their commitment to this important search process.

Sincerely,

Christina H. Paxson
President