The Office of International Advancement:  Brown News for International Alumni/ae, Parents, and Friends - March 2014: Vol. 6, No. 3
Upcoming Events
 

PRESIDENTIAL TRAVEL

March 24-28
President Paxson will travel to India to meet with members of the Brown community in Delhi and Mumbai and to convene a meeting of the Brown University Advisory Council on India.

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CAMPUS EVENTS

Commencement/Reunion 2014
Annual Reception for graduating international seniors and their families and international alumni/ae in reunion

May 24, 2014
5:00-6:30 p.m.
Rochambeau House
84 Prospect Street
Email for details and to RSVP.

Reunion 2014:
May 23, 24, and 25

If your class year ends in 4 or 9, make plans now to celebrate your lifelong connection to Brown during your class reunion on College Hill.

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INTERNATIONAL BROWN CLUBS: 250TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION EVENTS

March 22 – Berlin
The Brown Club of Germany will host Associate Professor of German Studies Tom Kniesche.
Contact:
Sarah Baumchen AM ’09
Lars Hubrich ’98

April 13 – Shanghai
Brown’s 250th Birthday Party Celebration with newly admitted students.
Contact: Nancy Ku ’08

May 2 – Vienna
Professor of Geological Sciences Jim Head PHD’69 P’90 will speak about “Postcards from Other Planets.”
Contact: Renee Gadsden ’85

 
facts About Brown
 

Brown received 30,291 applications for the Class of 2018, the second largest number in University history. This year’s pool also set a record for the largest number of international applicants (4,999) from the greatest number of nations (152). The University received a record number of applications from China, India, and Turkey. Other countries with high numbers of applicants included Canada, Korea, and the United Kingdom.

 
World Leaders at Brown
 

Nirupama Rao, former Indian ambassador to the United States and Meera and Vikram Gandhi Fellow at the Brown-India Initiative, led a conversation titled “India, China, the US and World Politics.” The event was moderated by Richard Locke, the Howard Swearer Director of the Watson Institute for International Studies.

 
Alumni/ae News & Notes
 

Janet Yang ’78 was honored with the inaugural Audrey Woman of Influence award at the 12th annual gala of the KoreAm Journal and Audrey Magazine. Yang, the producer of such movies as The Joy Luck Club and Shanghai Calling, was recognized for the “inspiring efforts [she] has done as a woman in the Asian American community.”

The United States Senate Committee on Finance approved Karen Dynan ’85 to be assistant secretary for economic policy at the Treasury Department. Dynan was the vice president and co-director of the Economic Studies program at the Brookings Institution from 2009 to 2013.

Tamara Arbib ’05 (United Kingdom) is the founder of Rebel Kitchen, a child-friendly, nourishing food brand. The company recently launched its first product, Mylk, a dairy-free drink made with coconut milk available in three varieties.

Natalia Obolensky ’08 was interviewed by the Financial Times for its interview series ”Women in Business School.“ She co-founded BBureau, a hair and beauty company, while studying for her MBA at Insead in France. The company aims to bring well-being services into the workplace to save employees time, money, and stress.

Dow Travers ’12 (Cayman Islands) represented the Cayman Islands at the Winter Olympics in Sochi. The alpine skier, who competed in the giant slalom and slalom events, was the Cayman’s first winter Olympian, competing in the giant slalom at the Vancouver games in 2010.

 
Alumni/ae History Corner
 

Henry Wheaton, diplomat and authority on international law, graduated from Rhode Island College (later named Brown University) in 1802. In 1827 President John Quincy Adams appointed him chargé d’affaires to Denmark, where he negotiated a treaty recovering payment for the seizure of American ships. In 1835 he was appointed chargé d’affaires in Berlin and two years later was promoted to envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to Prussia. His diplomatic career spanned the administrations of six presidents from John Quincy Adams to James Polk.

The University Library’s Wheaton Collection of International Law, founded in 1902, is named for him.

 
Brown Links
 

Brown Alumni Association

Giving to Brown

 
Featured Story

Brown Turns 250

Brown Turns 250
On March 7 and 8, President Christina Paxson launched the University’s 250th anniversary celebration with alumni/ae speakers and panels, gallery openings and performances, and one very large birthday cake. As part of the celebration, His Highness Karim Aga Khan IV LLD’96 P’95 and World Bank President Jim Yong Kim ’82 each delivered a Stephen A. Ogden, Jr. ’60 Memorial Lecture on International Affairs. In addition, U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez ’83 delivered a keynote address, and four governors—Lincoln Chafee ’75 P’14 P’17 (Rhode Island), Maggie Hassan ’80 P’15 (New Hampshire), Jack Markell ’82 (Delaware), and Peter Shumlin P’14 (Vermont)—spoke at the President’s Colloquium.

Visit Imagine Brown 250+ for writings, images, videos, and other materials from alumni/ae and friends across the globe. You can also submit your favorite memory of Brown in a video.

Photo: Jim Yong Kim ’82 delivering a keynote address.

 
President Paxson Travels to Hong Kong  

President Paxson Travels to Hong Kong
President Paxson traveled to Hong Kong in December 2013 for meetings with alumni/ae, parents, and friends. She presented Building on Distinction: A New Plan for Brown, which is her vision for the University’s next decade. She also discussed plans to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Brown’s founding. A celebration will take place in Hong Kong on the evening of December 4, 2014. Ron Margolin and Josh Taub ’93 accompanied the President along with Edward Steinfeld, Dean’s Professor of China Studies and professor of political science.

Photo: President Paxson (front, center) with members of the Brown University Advisory Councils on Asia and China, guests, and the Brown delegation.

International Fundraising

A London-based Class of ’85 alumnus established a charitable lead annuity trust, which will generate gifts totaling more than $1 million. Brown also received major gifts and pledges from international alumni/ae and parents for various purposes including:

  • China Initiative (Hong Kong)
  • Endowed scholarship (Hong Kong; Colombia)
  • Postdoctoral fellowship at the Watson Institute for International Studies (India)
  • Brown Annual Fund (Chile; United Kingdom)
  • Brown Annual Fund Scholarship (Hong Kong)

Brown in the News

Brown Named among Best-Value Universities
The Princeton Review has named Brown to its 2014 list of the 150 Best Value Colleges in the United States. The Princeton Review, a New York-based education services company, selects the schools from among 650 colleges throughout the United States based on “excellent academics, generous financial aid, and cost of attendance.”

Brown in Davos
During the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2014 in Davos, Switzerland, Brown Trustees Craig Cogut ’75 P’11 P’13 P’17 and Brian Moynihan ’81 P’14 co-hosted the University’s reception for alumni/ae, parents, and friends. Also in attendance were Vice President for International Advancement Ron Margolin and Regional Directors Geoffrey Kirkman ’91 and Robert Ayan.

Alumni who participated in the WEF Annual Meeting this year included Shiv Khemka ’85 (Vice Chairman of SUN Group in India), Aneel Bhusri ’88 (Chairman, Co-Founder, and Co-CEO of Workday), and Hyun Sang Cho ’94 (Executive Vice President of Hyosung Corporation in Korea).

Brown Hosts Ashoka U Exchange
The Ashoka U Exchange, a global conference for social entrepreneurship in higher education, took place at Brown in February. About 650 faculty members, students, and social entrepreneurs from nearly 25 countries came to Brown’s campus for the 2014 Ashoka U Exchange to share ideas about creative solutions to the world’s most pressing issues.

 

The Digital Humanities and Islamic and Middle East Studies
“The Digital Humanities and Islamic and Middle East Studies” conference at the Watson Institute for International Studies brought together scholars from a range of disciplines to examine the effect of new digital archiving and research technologies on the study of Islamic and Middle Eastern history and literature.

Photo: Detail of a page (c. 1580) from Minassian Collection, a database of Persian, Mughal, and Indian miniature paintings at Brown’s Center for Digital Scholarship.

The 2014 French Film Festival
Modern Culture and Media and the Department of French Studies presented Brown’s annual French Film Festival, featuring more than 30 films. Notable screenings that have garnered international acclaim include Ayiti Toma, au pays des vivants (2013) and Blue is the Warmest Color (2013).

 

Brown Hosts Conference on Turkish Poet Nazim Hikmet
Brown hosted a conference focused on the global impact of the life and work of Nazim Hikmet, one of the greatest poets in modern Turkish history. The conference titled “Nazim Hikmet: One Poet, One Nation, One World” was presented by Brown’s Middle East Studies.

Faculty News & Notes

Green Named Head of Brown’s Brazil Initiative
Professor of History James Green was recently appointed as head of the University’s Brazil Initiative. The initiative aims to enhance Brown’s strengths in Brazilian studies across the campus and to develop the University’s collaborative activities with the Brazilian academy.

 

Kertzer Interviewed by NPR on His New Book
David Kertzer, Paul Dupee University Professor of Social Science and professor of anthropology and Italian studies, recently published 
The Pope and Mussolini, which examines the relationship between Pope Pius XI and Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. It has been commonly understood that the Catholic Church fought against the fascists when Mussolini’s party ruled over Italy. But in The Pope and Mussolini, Kertzer writes that the historical record and a trove of recently released archives tell a very different story.

 

Adashi Makes Recommendations for Safer Childbirth in Indonesia
A joint report by U.S. and Indonesian experts, including Eli Adashi, professor of obstetrics and gynecology, provides recommendations to improve the survival of mothers and newborns in Indonesia. The report, highlighted at a joint U.S.-Indonesian public event in Jakarta in January, details necessary steps the government must take to improve safety, including investments in medical infrastructure.

 

Varshney Interviewed by the Wall Street Journal India
Ashutosh Varshney, Sol Goldman Charitable Trust Professor in International Studies and Social Sciences and director of the Brown-India Initiative, talks about his new book Battles Half Won: India’s Improbable Democracy and why the future of Indian democracy appears uncertain, but hopeful. Varshney indicates that no matter which party comes into power, the underlying challenge is to eradicate poverty across India.

 

Kennedy Co-authors Op-ed in the Guardian on Ukraine Crisis
Michael Kennedy, professor of sociology, co-authored an op-ed in the Guardian titled “The US should stop squirming and put sanctions on Russia.” The authors discuss how President Obama’s vague threats of ’consequences’ will do little to dissuade Russian President Vladimir Putin from moving forward in his invasion of Ukraine and the steps Obama should take that might work to stop him.

CreatureCast by Dunn Featured in the New York Times
CreatureCast by Casey Dunn, assistant professor of biology, showcases new research from the laboratory of Jon Witman, professor of biology, that reveals important new findings about the differences between green and pencil sea urchins. Both urchins are found in the Galápagos Islands. Research Assistant Sofia Castello y Tickell ’13 from Mexico and Robert Lamb GS’ made a video for CreatureCast.

Student Achievements
 

Jazz Band Travels to Cuba
The Brown University Jazz Band traveled to Cuba for a series of performances, lectures, and jam sessions with local musicians. They were accompanied by the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies Director and Professor of Political Science Richard Snyder and Jazz Band Director Matthew McGarrell. The students performed at Casa de las Américas—the institution that has partnered with the University on the Brown in Cuba program—and Sala Avenida in Marianao.

Photo: The Brown Jazz Band performing at Casa de las Américas.
Credit: Jordan Beard ’15

 

A Student Uses Textiles to Bring Attention to Global Issue
Youbin Kang ’14, a student in the Brown/RISD Dual Degree Program, uses textiles to bring attention to the global garment industry. Banglatie, her knit garment, hangs on a wall of the Watson Institute as part of a new initiative to showcase art by students, faculty, and staff. Kang has been interested in how the industry influences the development of many Third World countries. She spent the summer of 2011 interning in the merchandising and design offices of a garment factory in Bangladesh.

Collaborations & Partnerships
 

Brown Explores Possible Collaborations with Korea Foundation
During their visit to Korea in December 2013, Vice President Ron Margolin and Regional Director Geoffrey Kirkman ’91met with Korea Foundation President Hyun-Seok Yu to discuss possible collaborations between Brown and the Foundation.

Photo: From left, Geoffrey Kirkman ’91, Ron Margolin, and President Yu.
Credit: Korea Foundation

Office of International Advancement

Ron Margolin, Vice President for International Advancement and Senior Advisor for Leadership Philanthropy
Josh Taub ’93, Assistant Vice President for International Advancement
Geoffrey Kirkman ’91, Regional Director for International Advancement
Robert Ayan, Regional Director for International Advancement
Carol Beliveau P’96, International Advancement Program Coordinator
Connie DiPanfilo, International Advancement Coordinator
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 email Suncha_Lee@brown.edu. We also welcome your comments, critiques, and ideas for future issues of our newsletter.