Service to the community, the nation and the world is embedded in the fabric of Brown University. That’s why each year, the institution honors a master’s student with the Master’s Award for Engaged Citizenship and Community Service. 

The Brown University Master’s Award for Professional Excellence recognizes a Brown University master’s student whose outstanding contributions have influenced or contributed to the field or profession.

Professor of Religious Studies Thomas A. Lewis, known to most as Tal, has been appointed the Interim Dean of Brown’s Graduate School, effective July 1, 2022. He currently serves as the Co-Deputy Dean and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at the Graduate School, and will serve as Interim Dean for academic year 2022-23.

The English Language Program aims to equip incoming international graduate students for whom English is not a primary language with the language skills to feel confident and successful in navigating their academic contexts. The 2021 Winter English Language Program is open to Master’s and Ph.D. students in any discipline who are beginning their academic programs in Spring 2021.

Christopher Ell, Raghuraj Hoshing, and Madeline Montgomery will teach self-designed courses at Wheaton College during the current academic year.

I hope your semester is off to a great start. It was a pleasure to meet so many of our new students at All-Student Orientation.

Alicia LaPolla recently stepped into a newly created role in the School of Professional Studies as Associate Dean of Student Affairs. This position focuses exclusively on the master's student experience, including providing support and building community and belonging through programs and resources.

In the School of Professional Studies, Majida Kargbo began her role as the Assistant Director of Professional Development this past summer.

The six students who comprise the 2021 Open Graduate cohort will explore disciplinary combinations ranging from Theatre and Middle Eastern Studies to Biology and Data Science.

The Graduate School is delighted to share that Dr. Alycia Mosley Austin will be joining the Graduate School as Associate Dean of Diversity and Inclusion, effective September 8.

Wittels joined the Graduate School team in the late spring, stepping into the newly restructured Assistant Director of Academic Affairs position. He supports oversight and capacity-building functions for doctoral and MFA programs, collaborates with faculty and administrators to set policies and best practices for graduate education, and guides graduate students who are applying for competitive grants and fellowships.

Vikas Thamizharasan is from India and was born and raised in Bahrain. He earned his undergraduate degree in computer science and engineering at International Institute of Information Technology in Hyderabad, India.

We look forward to welcoming you to Brown's vibrant intellectual community!

This Fall, Brown will be operating on the traditional two-semester academic calendar with primarily in-person operations. Students who are taking courses will be expected to participate in-person, with limited exemptions for students who are unable to do so due to health concerns or disability.

This Fall, Brown will be operating on the traditional two-semester academic calendar with primarily in-person operations. Only a portion of the curriculum will be available to remote students. Students who are taking courses will be expected to participate in-person, with limited exemptions for students who are unable to do so due to health concerns or disability, travel or visa restrictions, or financial hardship.

As the University announced during the spring term, all Brown students and employees are required to be vaccinated.

The English Language Program is a two-week summer program that aims to equip incoming international graduate students for whom English is not a primary language with the language skills to feel confident and successful in navigating their academic contexts.

As you likely know, all individuals 12 years of age and older who live, work or study in Rhode Island are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at no cost and with no requirement for insurance.

We are pleased to report today that Brown has reached a tentative agreement with the Graduate Labor Organization (GLO), which represents graduate students engaged in teaching and research positions, regarding FY22 stipend increases for graduate students who hold these positions.

The recipient of the 2021 Master’s Award for Professional Excellence is Thian Chin Lim, a student in the Executive Master in Cybersecurity program in the School of Professional Studies. Lim is currently the Director of the Critical Information Infrastructure in the Division of the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore.

Yisel De Oleo-Gregory is a graduating master’s student in the Urban Education Policy program and will receive the Master’s Award for Engaged Citizenship and Community Service at the Graduate School Commencement Ceremony on May 1. She is honored for her coalition-building skills and advocacy across all areas of her professional, academic, and personal life.

An international leader in solid mechanics and structures engineering, Ares J. Rosakis ’80 Sc.M., ’82 Ph.D., is the recipient of the 2020/2021 Horace Mann Medal.

During a year when outstanding contributions were many, the Graduate Student Council selected two staff members to honor and thank for their work in support of graduate students and graduate education at Brown.

Botai Xuan will receive the Joukowsky Outstanding Dissertation Award at the Graduate School Commencement Ceremony on May 1.

Hannah Krueger is a fourth-year PhD student in Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences (DEEPS) and the recipient of a 2021 Excellence in Teaching Award.

Noted for his course development and teaching skills during a tremendously difficult year, Christopher J. Lee ’21 PhD is the recipient of a 2021 Excellence in Teaching Award.

Amal Trivedi is one of two faculty members recognized this year with the Faculty Award for Advising and Mentoring. Trivedi received numerous lengthy nominations from current and former students and faculty in the School of Public Health. He is a Professor of Health Services, Policy and Practice and a Professor of Medicine.

Nicolás Campisi, who completed his doctoral degree in Hispanic Studies, has been selected for a 2021 Joukowsky Outstanding Dissertation Award for his innovative research on Latin American fiction. He will receive the award at the Graduate School Commencement Ceremony on May 1. This prize recognizes the superior research achievements of doctoral students.

Recognized for their exemplary ability to teach both skills and content, Jonathan Cortez '21 PhD is the recipient of a 2021 Excellence in Teaching Award, which was presented at the University Awards Ceremony.

She will receive the honor for her dissertation entitled, Sharing Script: Development and Transmission of Hieroglyphic Practice among Classic Maya Scribes, at the Graduate School Commencement Ceremony on May 1.

We hope that you are safe and healthy. This message contains important updates and provides details on some essential actions required of you so that the University can successfully prepare for the end of Spring 2021 and the start of Summer 2021. 

Our community continues to face challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The University recognizes that the ongoing impacts of the pandemic will limit research, travel, professional development, and employment opportunities that students typically rely on in the summers.

Master’s student LaShanda Harbin is the Ruth J. Simmons Urban Education Policy Scholarship recipient for the 2020-2021 academic year.

The Brown University Ombuds Office is a resource that is here for you.

David completed his PhD in Computer Science in April 2020 amidst a global pandemic. Through a series of internships and conversations he sought out his current employer, DeepMind, a research lab in London focused on machine learning and artificial intelligence. David earned his undergraduate degree in Computer Science and Philosophy from Carleton College.

Sarosha currently lives in Houston, Texas. She attended Trinity University in San Antonio and graduated with a BS in Neuroscience.