The Office of International Advancement:  Brown News for International Alumni, Parents and Friends - September 2011: Vol. 4, No. 1
Upcoming Events

President Ruth J. Simmons and Vice President Ron Margolin invite you to a reception for Brown alumni/ae, parents, and friends on the occasion of the World Economic Forum

Friday, January 27, 2012

10:00 p.m. to midnight

Salon Scaletta
Steigenberger Hotel Belvedere
Promenade 89
Davos, Switzerland

For more information or to RSVP, contact Suncha Lee P’98 P’98.


International Brown Clubs Host Brown Faculty
September 23 – London
Professor of Biology Ken Miller '70 P’02 will deliver a lecture titled "The Evolution Wars - Why They Continue, Why They Matter." Contact: Luke Balleny '06

October 10 – Paris
Professor Emeritus of Physics Herbert Fried will lecture on "Old Science, New Science: Rubbing Shoulders with Religion and Literature." Contact: Julia Furman ’06

December 12 – Istanbul
Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of Brown’s Middle East Studies Program Melani Cammett '91 will speak on "Protests and Political Change in the Middle East." Contact: Tugba Erem '04

December 16 - Vienna Professor Emeritus of Classics Kurt Raaflaub P'96 will lecture on “Why Does Ancient History Matter Today? Lessons Learned from the Ancient Greeks and Romans.” Contact: Renée Gadsden PHD’85

Staff Announcement

On September 6, Geoffrey Kirkman ’91 joined the International Advancement team as regional director. He will be working primarily with alumni/ae, parents, and friends in Canada, Japan, Korea, Latin America, and Portugal. Prior to joining International Advancement, Kirkman was deputy director of the Watson Institute for International Studies for eight years. He earned a master’s degree in public policy from the Kennedy School at Harvard University and has extensive international experience, including several years at the World Bank in Latin America. Kirkman has also taught in Brown’s C.V. Starr Program in Commerce, Organizations, and Entrepreneurship (COE) and advised students for many years.

Alumni News & Notes

Thousands of alumni/ae returned to campus in May to celebrate their lifelong connection to Brown. Watch 2011 Reunion highlights video to experience the excitement of Reunion Weekend and hear alumni/ae reflect on what Brown means to them.

Julio de Quesada ’74 has been appointed head of Corporate and Investment Banking Group at Mashreq, one of the leading financial institutions in the United Arab Emirates. He has more than 33 years experience in the banking and financial sector in various countries, including Mexico, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia.

Nominated by President Obama and approved by the United States Senate, Elizabeth Littlefield ’82 became the 10th president and CEO of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) in 2010. Established as an agency of the U.S. government in 1971, OPIC services are available for new and expanding business enterprises in more than 150 countries worldwide.

Ryan Garbutt ’09 (Winnipeg, Canada), who played for the Corpus Christi IceRays during their final season as a minor-league franchise, signed a contract with the Dallas Stars during the National Hockey League's free-agent signing period.

Kyle Schutter '10, a biomedical engineering graduate and alternative energy entrepreneur, is founder and CEO of Takamoto Biogas Ltd. in Kenya.

Brown Club News

In August, the Brown Club of Australia (Sydney) hosted Janet Mann ’83, professor of biology at Georgetown University and an expert on dolphins, who lectured on “The Dolphins of Shark Bay.”

Also in August, the Brown Club of Brazil (Rio de Janeiro) hosted Professor of Portuguese and Brazilian Studies and Comparative Literature Luiz Valente PHD’83, who welcomed Brown students studying abroad in Brazil.

Alumni History Corner

Christopher Robinson, Class of 1825 and a renowned lawyer in his day, was a key player in the effort to write a state constitution for Rhode Island and an advocate for democracy in the United States and abroad. Beloved in Peru, he was Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at the American Consulate in Lima during the Civil War.

Brown’s John Hay Library is hosting an exhibition about this fascinating alumnus titled “Señor Americanus: Lincoln's Man in Peru” from May 15 through September 23.

Brown Links

Brown Alumni Association
Friends of the Watson Institute
Giving to Brown

A Special Announcement

President Simmons to Step Down in June 2012
On September 15, President Ruth J. Simmons announced that she would step down at the end of the current academic year. Having begun her duties as Brown’s 18th president in July 2001, President Simmons will have completed 11 years of service at the conclusion of her term. While her term as president will end on June 30, 2012, she will continue at Brown as professor of comparative literature and Africana studies.

 
The Plan for Academic Enrichment

Year of China at Brown
An exhibition by the internationally renowned Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang launched the Year of China at Brown. Held throughout the 2011-2012 academic year, the Year of China offers public lectures, cultural events, academic conferences, and multimedia activities to advance understanding of China’s culture, history, people, geography, and its relation to the world. Featured guests will include author Leslie Chang—whose book Factory Girls has been selected as the “First Reading” for the Class of 2015; Justin Lin, chief economist of the World Bank; and Wei Yang PHD’85, president of Zhejiang University. Sponsored by the Office of International Affairs, the Year of China is led by Professor of Physics Chung-I Tan P’95 P’03.

 

Brown University Charitable Trust in the United Kingdom
The Brown University Charitable Trust is a special entity that was set up in the United Kingdom to make giving to Brown more tax efficient for UK taxpayers and to take advantage of UK tax incentives (Gift Aid) for the benefit of Brown. As a charity registered in both the United Kingdom and the United States, it enables UK taxpayers to obtain UK tax relief and enables those liable for UK and US taxes to obtain tax relief in both countries on the same contribution. The donor obtains relief on his or her taxes, and Brown gets additional funds from the British government currently equal to 28 percent of the original donation. For example, a donor's £10,000 gift yields £12,800 for Brown. If you would like more information about giving to Brown through the Trust, please contact Connie DiPanfilo.

Brown in the News

Brown Ranks High on Several College Lists
The Princeton Review reports in its 2012 Best 376 Colleges that Brown scored third for happiest students, fourth for best college newspaper, and seventh for best college radio station. In addition, Brown was ranked 11th for college theater as well as quality of life.

 
Creative Arts Center

Brown was also named one of the 10 college campuses with the best architecture. According to a recent issue of Architectural Digest, the opening of the Perry and Marty Granoff Center for the Creative Arts in February helped the University earn its spot as number four on the list.

Photo: The Perry and Marty Granoff Center for the Creative Arts.

   
BIARI participants

Third Annual Brown International Advanced Research Institutes at Brown
In June, some 200 participants and visiting faculty came to Brown from more than 40 countries for the 2011 Brown International Advanced Research Institutes (BIARI). The program provides a platform for promising young scholars from the developing world to engage in intellectual and policy dialogue with each other and with leading Brown scholars in their fields. BIARI is sponsored by Brown’s Office of International Affairs and Santander Universities.

Photo: President Simmons welcomes BIARI participants at a reception in Sayles Hall.
Credit: Mike Cohea/Brown University

   
   

President Simmons Interviewed by Chinese Newspaper
President Simmons was interviewed as part of a series of profiles of university presidents published in conjunction with the 26th Universiade, also known as the World University Games, which was held in Shenzhen, China during the summer. President Simmons talks about the open curriculum, Brown’s connections with China, and the University’s relationship with the local community. View the interview (tip: use Google Translate).

Faculty News & Notes
Stephen Houston

Stephen Houston Receives Guatemala’s Highest Honor
In July, Stephen Houston, the Dupee Family Professor of Social Science and professor of anthropology, was awarded the Order of the Quetzal in the rank of Grand Cross—the highest honor the Republic can bestow upon its citizens or foreigners—by the President of Guatemala. Houston was recognized for his extraordinary contributions to the study of Mayan culture, which he has spent nearly 30 years researching.

Photo: Rafael Espada, vice president of Guatemala, places the Order of the Quetzal sash on the shoulders of Professor Houston.
Credit: Ministry of Culture and Sports of Guatemala

   
Joseph

Joseph Rovan’s Work Featured in WRO Biennale in Poland
Associate Professor of Music Joseph "Butch" Rovan’s installation, Let us imagine a straight line, was featured at the 14th WRO Media Art Biennale in Wroclaw, Poland from May 10 through June 19. His interactive work was one of 70 selected from more than 2,400 entries. The WRO Media Art Biennale is the leading forum for new media art in Poland and Central Europe. View video interview.

   
Melani Cammett ’91

In Congress: Melani Cammett ’91 Calls Hezbollah Assault from Latin America 'Implausible'
In July, Melani Cammett ’91, associate professor of political science and director of Brown’s Middle East Studies Program (based at the Watson Institute for International Studies), testified before Congress at the hearing regarding “Hezbollah in Latin America — Implications for US Homeland Security” held by the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence.

   
Mary Grace Almandrez

Third World Center Names New Director
The Third World Center (TWC) appointed Mary Grace Almandrez as its new director this summer after a yearlong search process. Almandrez, who took office July 1, was joined by Oscar Perez, the TWC’s new assistant director for diversity initiatives.

   
Lina Fruzzetti

Lina Fruzzetti Appointed Interim Institutional Diversity Officer
Lina Fruzzetti, Royce Family Professor in Teaching Excellence and professor of anthropology, has been appointed interim institutional diversity officer. She will be responsible for leading Brown's efforts in enhancing diversity across the entire campus, focusing on, in particular, faculty recruitment and academic departments and centers.

Student Achievements

Brown Students Participate in International Summer Internships
Brown is expanding summer internships for its undergraduate students so they can acquire knowledge of other cultures as well as obtain invaluable work experience. This past summer, twelve Brown students participated in internships at companies and educational institutions in China, India, and Spain.

 
China

In China, five students worked in various companies, including an equity firm, gaining practical experience in finance and exposure to China and other Asian markets.

Photo: Students tour Noah’s Ark Park in Hong Kong.

   
India

In India, five students in Brown’s C.V. Starr Program in Commerce, Organizations, and Entrepreneurship (COE) participated in internships at two multinational organizations in Mumbai and Hyderabad, attending client meetings and conferences, preparing presentations, and touring major historical/cultural sites.

Photo: Students enjoy an outing during their stay in India.

   
 

In Spain, Brown launched COE's International Internship program at the business school Instituto Empresa (Madrid)—with which Brown has launched a joint Executive MBA Program. Two students worked on marketing of the new MBA program.

   

Erik Taylor Receives Fulbright Fellowship to India
Ph.D candidate Erik Taylor, a biomedical engineering graduate student, has been selected for a Fulbright Fellowship. For six-to-nine months, he will conduct research on anti-infection strategies in Mumbai with Dr. Rinti Banerjee from Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay, with which Brown has a partnership.

 

Cheryn-Ann Chew ’12 Speaks to the Singapore Press about Brown and Rhode Island
In June, Cheryn-Ann Chew ’12 was quoted by The Straits Times Singapore, saying “Chilling out in Rhode Island; The state in the New England region is home to the famous Brown University and excellent restaurants.” In her remarks, she encourages people to visit Brown.

 

Brown Hockey Player Dennis Robertson ’14 and His Teammates Save Lives
On August 30, six members of Brown’s hockey team—including Dennis Robertson ’14 (British Columbia, Canada), who worked as a lifeguard at a swimming pool in his native British Columbia—saved the lives of three young teens caught in a rip current at South Shore Beach in Little Compton, Rhode Island.

Collaborations & Partnerships
Hong Kong Memoranda

Brown and Chinese University of Hong Kong Sign Memoranda
In August, President Simmons and President Joseph J.Y. Sung of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) signed three memoranda of understanding, establishing the Brown Plus One degree program and further strengthening university ties. The Brown Plus One program allows Brown students to spend one or two semesters of study at CUHK while completing their Brown baccalaureate degrees and then to devote an additional year of study abroad in order to earn a master's degree from CUHK. The two institutions also signed agreements to take part in one–week faculty exchanges and the Brown–CUHK Language Teaching Fellowship.

Photo: From left, President Simmons, Joseph J.Y. Sung, president of CUHK, and Vice President for International Affairs Matthew Gutmann at the signing ceremony on campus.
Credit: Mike Cohea/Brown University

   
Peking University

Brown and Peking University Sign A Memorandum
On May 9, Vice President for International Affairs Matthew Gutmann
P'14 and Brown/Marine Biological Laboratory Assistant Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Jianwu Tang visited Peking University to further strengthen relationships between the two universities in environmental studies. There, Vice President Gutmann and Executive Vice President of Peking University Wu Zhipan signed a memorandum of understanding to promote collaborative research and faculty and student exchanges.

Photo: From left, Vice President Gutmann and Executive Vice President Wu at the signing ceremony at Peking University in China.

   

University of Liberia President Visits Brown
On May 23, President Emmet A. Dennis and Trustees of Donations for Education Secretary John B. Newhall visited Brown and met with President Simmons as well as with representatives from International Affairs, the Taubman Center for Public Policy, and the Department of Africana Studies to explore areas of mutual interest between the University of Liberia and Brown.

   
Office of International Advancement

Ron Margolin, Vice President for International Advancement
Josh Taub '93, Regional Director for International Advancement
Vijay Chitnis '94, Regional Director for International Advancement
Geoffrey Kirkman '91, Regional Director for International Advancement
Carol Beliveau P'96, International Advancement Program Coordinator
Connie DiPanfilo, International Advancement Associate
Suncha Lee P'98 P'98, Coordinator for International Advisory Councils
Russell Picozzi, Executive Assistant to the Vice President and Program Manager
Theresa Saritelli, International Advancement Coordinator

For more information about the Brown University Office of International Advancement, or to unsubscribe from this newsletter, please e-mail Suncha_Lee@brown.edu. We also welcome your comments, critiques, and ideas for future issues of our newsletter.