Read the latest on Brown alumnae
Women's Leadership Council newsletter
Spring 2015 Newsletter

Council News:

WLC Council Co-Chair Shelley Fidler ’68, P’09

and member Eva Sudol ’89, P’16 participated in the JanLab at Brown. The lab helps students explore career options through learning from and networking with alumni.

WLC Member Joelle Murchison ’95, senior manager at The Travelers Companies spoke to students on the topic of “Brown Graduates Doing Worthy Work”.

Brown Women In The News

Associate Dean of the College Mary Grace Almandrez speaks

on her position, accomplishments and goals as a woman of color in higher education.

Entrepreneur listed Sangeeta Bhatia ’90 as one of “6 Innovative Women to Watch in 2015.” Dr. Bhatia, a biomedical engineer at MIT, is the co-founder of biotech startups Zymera and Hepregen.

Producer Kristina Reed ’87 is a 2015 Oscar winner for two films, “Feast” and “Big Hero 6”.

Rasmi Sinha PhD ’99 is listed in "17 Inspiring Women Entrepreneurs Share Their Secrets for Success" by Inc.

Events:

February 4 – (New York, NY) Laya Khadjavi ’84 hosted a Brown Reader Event in her home. The event featured author Meg Wolitzer ’81 and literary agent Suzanne Gluck ’81.

February 17 – (Naples FL) Judy Hushon ’67, P’93 hosted a 250th Celebration event in her home that focused on individual experiences at Brown and “The Brown Reader: 50 Writers Remember College Hill”.

The Lamphere Case: The Sex Discrimination Lawsuit that Changed Brown – An exhibit that opened on March 5 to an enthusiastic audience of students, faculty, alumnae/i, and others, explores in detail the Lamphere case and its consequences for Brown. The exhibit is on view in Pembroke Hall (172 Meeting Street) through May 24. If you cannot make it to campus, please explore the online exhibit.

Upcoming Events:

May 22-24: Reunion Weekend
Classes ending in 5 and 0, we hope to see you on Memorial Day weekend for Campus Dance, Commencement, forums, receptions, and more!

Join the WLC on:

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Leaders

New Leaders on Campus

Women are leading the way at Brown. From current President Christina Paxson, Provost Vicki Colvin, Senior Vice President for University Advancement Patricia Watson, Vice President for Campus Life and Student Services Margaret Klawunn, Associate Provost for International Affairs Sonia Feigenbaum, Vice President for Human Resources Karen Davis, Vice President and General Counsel Beverly Ledbetter, Dean of the College Maud Mandel, Associate Provost for Academic Development and Diversity Liza Cariaga-Lo, Dean of the School of Public Health Terrie Fox Wetle, and Vice President of Strategic Initiatives Karen Sibley, it is wonderful to see so many women in important roles at the University.

This Spring Brown welcomed two new important leaders to this group. Please join us in welcoming Barbara Chernow ’79 (L),

Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration and Cass Cliatt (R), Vice President for Communications.

Leading for Health & Justice

Brown Professor, Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott has been nominated by Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo to serve as the next leader for the state Department of Health.


Laurie Robinson ’68 is co-chairing President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing. A former assistant attorney general at the Department of Justice, Robinson is charged with reducing crime in a way that will ensure public trust.

Mentors

Leading by Example:
Joan Weinberger Berman, Ph.D. ’74, P’05, P’11

Dr. Joan W. Berman is a Professor of Pathology and of Microbiology & Immunology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where she manages a large research laboratory studying the mechanisms by which HIV enters the brain and causes neuron damage and cognitive impairment in a large number of infected individuals.

Dr. Berman serves as the Senior Faculty Advisor of Einstein's graduate division and the Director of the graduate student program in experimental pathology at Einstein. She is the Co-chair of the Medical Student Research Committee and the Director of Translational Research for Einstein medical students.

In addition to serving as Co-chair of the Brown Women’s Leadership Council Mentoring Committee, Dr. Berman is also on the Pembroke Associates Council and is the Chair of its Programing Committee.

Dr. Berman is passionate about mentoring. Read her inspiring interview.

Women’s Launch Pad

Planning is underway for the Women’s Launch Pad (WLP) mentoring program for academic year ’16. If you are interested in mentoring a senior class woman, please review the following guidelines for participation in the Women’s Launch Pad as an alumna mentor.

  • 8–10 years since graduating, however, 5+ will be considered based on the alumna’s professional/personal life experiences.
  • Attendance at one on-campus or off-campus event such as the October program kickoff, the May year-end event or regional events over winter break and summer months.

If you are interested in mentoring for the upcoming academic year (2015–2016), please take the time to complete our mentor information form. To learn more about the program, visit our website or send us an email.

Winter Mentoring Gatherings

In January, the Women’s Leadership Council offered two opportunities for engagement to the entire Women’s Launch Pad community in New York and Boston at the annual WLP Winter gatherings.

The New York event was graciously hosted by Meredith Berkman ’86 and featured speaker Heidi Messer ’92.

Marcia Blenko ’83, Sharon Curhan ’83 and Sandee Simshauser ’84 hosted the Winter Gathering event in Boston, which included an open roundtable career and networking discussion. In addition to our hosts, Kim Bertrand ’99, Sarah Beaulieu ’99,​ Monica Young ’06, Imogene Hatch ’99 and Jessica Pesce ’06 offered perspectives on their different career paths.

International Students:
Living and Working in the US after Graduation

This February, the Women’s Leadership Council sponsored

a discussion on campus designed to help international Brown students. Three panelists shared how they faced personal, professional, and cultural challenges, as international Brown graduates working in the U.S. The panel included:

  • Cathryn Cluver ’99, (Moderator), Executive Director, Future of Diplomacy Project at the Harvard Kennedy School, India and South Asia Program at the Harvard Kennedy School. German native.
  • Elke Breker, Director of the Office of International Student &
    Scholar Services (OISSS) at Brown University. German native.
  • Natalie Reid ’99, Partner at Debevoise & Plimpton, focusing on public international law, international litigation, and international arbitration matters. Jamaica native.
 

Philanthropists

New gifts, budget increase to enhance financial aid

The Corporation of Brown University formally accepted gifts and approved a fiscal 2016 budget that will significantly enhance undergraduate financial aid at the University:

  • Undergraduate Resumed Education (RUE) will receive $1 million a year for the next 15 years from an anonymous donor in support of financial aid. The gift will allow an increase in the number of RUE students on campus.
  • The Sidney Frank Scholars program, which provides scholarships to students with the greatest financial need, will receive $10 million in additional support from the Sidney E. Frank Foundation, allowing Frank Scholars to participate more fully in internships and other summer learning experiences.
  • Financial aid packages for new students from middle-income families see an increase in awards and a reduction in expected parental contribution as part of a 8-percent increase in the financial aid budget.

Giving Back:
Student Internships with BrownConnect

Join the WLC in supporting BrownConnect! Shir Levanon ’15, shown here with BrownConnect supporter and WLC member Chandra Metzler ’95, calls BrownConnect internships “… an amazing tool because they are key to a smooth transition from college to the job market.” If you’ve already posted a summer 2015 internship, thanks! If not, post one here.