Horacio Espinosa '89 Sc.M., '90 Sc.M., '92 Ph.D. has spent his career finding answers that are reshaping how we understand materials, medicine, and the microscopic world. A three-time Brown graduate and world-leading researcher, Espinosa is the 2026 recipient of the Horace Mann Medal, the Brown Graduate School's highest honor for alumni who have made significant contributions in their field.

“Real teaching, the kind that actually leaves a mark on students' lives, is unglamorous, painstaking work,” says Alexander Hardan.

Katyayni Seth, a doctoral candidate in Anthropology, has been named a recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching. Described by the Director of Graduate Studies, Parker VanValkenburgh, as “she has received plaudits from her students and colleagues alike for her innovative, student-centered approach to pedagogy.”

Hannah Shabtian is recognized for her thoughtful teaching, creative course design, and commitment to science education at Brown and beyond.

The Pathobiology scholar “dismantles complex topics” and converts them into accessible learning experiences. Kimberly Meza has been selected for the Graduate School Excellence in Teaching Award in the life sciences.

Daniel M. Harris, Associate Professor of Engineering, has received the Graduate School Faculty Award for Advising and Mentoring, an honor that reflects not only his accomplishments as a researcher and teacher, but also his deep commitment to students.

Erica Larschan, Professor of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, has been awarded the 2026 Graduate School Faculty Award for Advising and Mentoring in the life sciences, a recognition that speaks to decades of work that extends far beyond the laboratory.

From providing generous written feedback to never missing a student’s presentation at the American Academy of Religion conference, Stephen Bush, Professor and Chair of Religious Studies, demonstrates an exceptional ability to help scholars find their voices while navigating the complexities of academia.

The accomplished scholar and academic leader with experience directing international research collaborations will work to strengthen Brown’s doctoral programs and create new opportunities for over 1,700 doctoral students.

Tassallah Amina Abdullahi, a doctoral candidate in Computer Science, has been honored with the Best Social Impact Paper award at the 63rd Annual Meeting of the Association for Computational Linguistics (ACL 2025) in Vienna, Austria. The prestigious accolade recognizes her work focused on ensuring that advanced Artificial Intelligence serves communities most in need of technological support, particularly in healthcare.

Alyssa Bolster, a doctoral candidate in Anthropology at Brown University, has been selected for a prestigious Fulbright Award to conduct nine months of critical bioarchaeological research in Peru. The grant offers her a unique opportunity to immerse herself in local communities, allowing for a deeper, more collaborative approach to her work that builds upon her prior field experience.

Matthew Ballance, a doctoral candidate in Anthropology, has been awarded the prestigious Fulbright Award to conduct research in Bolivia. The award will allow Ballance to spend nearly a year in the field, investigating the economic and social impact of colonial trade on indigenous communities.

This year’s 36 Fulbright awardees will begin teaching and research assignments in 23 countries across four continents in Fall 2025.

Laferriere is recognized for building community and streamlining support for graduate students.

John Antolik's dissertation combines innovative experiments and theoretical models to transform understanding of fluid dynamics.

Jiang’s award-winning dissertation transforms an approach to stubborn bacterial infections.

Dr. Ella Grunberger-Kirsh's research uncovers how complex ancient societies were built from the bottom up by 'memory-writers'.

Isabella Bellezza-Smull's Groundbreaking Work Reveals How Trust and Professional Networks Shape Global Security Collaboration.

Brown University mentor praised for creating a collaborative environment where students gain early experience in teaching, presenting and interdisciplinary problem-solving. Anubhav Tripathi, professor of engineering and biomedical engineering, has been awarded the Graduate School Faculty Award for Advising and Mentoring in the life sciences. 

Jones’s interdisciplinary and team science approach prepares diverse students for success. Stephanie Jones has been selected for the Graduate School Faculty Award for Advising and Mentoring in the life sciences.

Testa combines quantitative expertise with personalized guidance to shape the next generation of political science scholars at Brown. He has been selected for the Graduate School Faculty Award for Advising and Mentoring in the social sciences.

Award recognizes scholar's consistent presence in students' lives while modeling professional development through innovative teaching and public scholarship. Johanna Hanink, professor of Classics has been selected for the Graduate School Faculty Award for Advising and Mentoring in the humanities.

Immunology researcher recognized for exceptional ability to break down complex concepts for diverse audiences, from high schoolers to industry professionals. Samantha Borys has been selected for the Graduate School Excellence in Teaching Award in the life sciences.

"A sworn duty to be an effective educator": How Kinan Dak Albab's mentorship cultivates the next generation of computer scientists. Dak Albab has been selected for the Graduate School Excellence in Teaching Award in the physical sciences.

Colleagues and students celebrate Kate Elizabeth Creasey's exceptional ability to create supportive learning spaces while tackling complex historical subjects. Creasey has been selected for the Graduate School Excellence in Teaching Award in the humanities.

The American Studies scholar creates a "vivacious intellectual community" while challenging cultural assumptions about relationships and identity. Caroline Cunfer has been selected for the Graduate School Excellence in Teaching Award in the social sciences.

From academic research to pharmaceutical leadership, Martin's precision medicine approach spans academia, industry, and advocacy for brain health.

Archana Ramanujam is a doctoral candidate in Sociology who spent this past fall on the island of Curaçao to conduct essential archival research for her dissertation. 

In his first few months at Brown, Michael Anzalone, alongside the Graduate School admissions team, developed and deployed a brand new admissions processing platform, Slate. In his role, Anzalone is primarily responsible for developing, maintaining, and supporting the admissions and funding systems within the Graduate School. He started at Brown last May.

Isabella Schultz, a doctoral student in anthropology and master’s student in public health, is pushing the boundaries of interdisciplinary research through the Open Graduate Education program.

This fall, Ph.D. student in health services research, Geronimo Bejarano Cardenas, continues his doctoral work through support from the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship.

As she investigates cancer treatments and pursues her own path toward becoming a physician-scientist, the Brown University doctoral student is supporting fellow Indigenous students interested in science and medicine.

David Arango, a 2023 Master of Public Health graduate, participated in the Brown Executive Scholars Training (BEST) program during the final year of his graduate studies.

Oluwasemilore (Semilore) Sobande, currently a Fulbright Scholar in France, is using this award to explore the Francophone aspects of her dissertation research.