Brown students, faculty, staff and alumni contribute in countless ways to the betterment of humankind.
Brown attracts and cultivates talented, curious and independent students and scholars, who naturally collaborate to advance knowledge through integrative research and innovative teaching. They are risk takers, broadly and deeply educated and committed to sharing their knowledge. The results: a deeper understanding of the human condition and treatments and solutions for society’s greatest challenges.
In the heart of Brown’s campus sits the Center for Public Service named for Brown’s 15th president, Howard R. Swearer. Around the corner is the Sarah Doyle Women’s Center. Just north of the College Green is the Center for Students of Color (formerly the Third World Center). Public service, giving back, fighting injustice, standing up for truth: all of these values are ingrained in Brown’s institutional DNA.
Throughout history, on campus and far beyond, Brown women and men have brought these values to life. They have been champions of civil rights and women’s rights. In every era, they have demanded that their University address society’s most pressing issues of the day, from revolutionary war to nuclear disarmament, from equity for the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning) community to global warming and environmental responsibility. They have fearlessly created, discovered and served in every academic and social arena.
Back to School
As late August appears and a chill comes into the evening air, many of us begin to think about returning to school. Perhaps we are buying school supplies or ironing uniforms for our own children. Perhaps our first...
Celebrating 40 Years
As Brown celebrated its 250th anniversary, the Sarah Doyle Women’s Center kicked off a year-long celebration of 40 years on Brown’s campus. On March 7 and 8, 2014, the SDWC began its celebration with an open house and an...
Embracing Diversity from the Start
Brown University, founded by 18th century Baptists, exhibited a rare tolerance for often competing religious views. The University’s founders, however, could not have imagined the diversity that characterizes...
The Naming of Brown University
In this video, John Nicholas Brown II (1900–1979) speaks to an audience in Newport circa 1974 about his ancestor’s role in the naming of Brown University. From the time of its founding until the receipt of the $5,000 gift...