Information For:

250th Steering Committee and Sub-Committees

Background

In 2011, to determine how best to commemorate this milestone, then President Ruth J. Simmons and Chancellor Thomas J. Tisch ’76 convened a broad-based committee charged with “overseeing the development and implementation of a range of activities, events and materials to reflect and showcase the University's distinctive history, character, culture, traditions, and future, engaging alumni, faculty, students and their families, staff and communities and partners here in Rhode Island and around the world.”

The Steering Committee for the 250th Anniversary is comprised of current and emeriti members of the Corporation, current and emeriti members of the faculty, staff, students representative of the undergraduate, graduate and medical school communities, and alumni.

Membership

  • Wendy J. Strothman ’72, LHD’08 hon., P’07, Trustee emerita, Fellow emerita, Corporation of Brown University (Tri-Chair)
  • Ralph F. Rosenberg ’86, P’17, Trustee, Corporation of Brown University (Tri-Chair)
  • Russell C. Carey ’91, AM’06, Executive Vice President, Planning and Policy (Tri-Chair)
  • Todd G. Andrews ’83, Vice President, Alumni Relations
  • Thomas F. Banchoff II ADE’70 hon., P’91, Professor of Mathematics
  • George H. Billings ’72, Trustee, Corporation of Brown University; President, Brown Alumni Association Board of Governors
  • Nancy L. Buc ’65, LLD’94 hon., Trustee emerita, Fellow emerita, Corporation of Brown University
  • Richard A. Fishman ADE’73 hon., P’89, Professor of Visual Art; Director, Creative Arts Council
  • Timothy P. Flanigan MD, Dean's Professor of Medical Science; Professor of Medicine and of Health Services, Policy & Practice
  • Jessica Hodgdon, Chair, President’s Staff Advisory Council
  • Nancy C. Hyde ’80, P’17, P’17, President-elect, Brown Alumni Association Board of Governors
  • Odest (Chad) Jenkins, Associate Professor of Computer Science
  • Carl Kaestle ADE’98 hon., Professor emeritus, Department of Education
  • Lauren J. Kolodny ’08, Young Alumni Trustee emerita, Corporation of Brown University
  • Heather R. Lee AM’09, PhD’13, Graduate School student representative
  • Steven Lubar ADE’05 hon., Professor of American Studies, History, and History of Art and Architecture; Director, John Nicholas Brown Center for Public Humanities and Cultural Heritage
  • Karen Newman, Owen Walker Professor of Humanities; Professor of Comparative Literature and English
  • Mark Nickel P’09, Senior Editor, Public Affairs and University Relations
  • Carle Pieters, Professor of Geological Sciences
  • Marisa Quinn, Vice President, Public Affairs and University Relations
  • Joan Wernig Sorensen ’72, P’06, P’06, Trustee emerita, Corporation of Brown University
  • Noelle E. Spencer ’14, MD’18, Undergraduate student representative
  • Jennifer W. Tsai ’14, MD’18, Undergraduate student representative
  • Patricia R. Watson, Senior Vice President, University Advancement
  • Clay P. Wiske MD’14, Alpert Medical School student representative
  • Gordon S. Wood ADE’70 hon., LITD’10 hon., P’86, GP’11, Professor emeritus, Department of History

Sub-Committees of the 250th Steering Committee and Affiliated Charges

Academic Forums & Events:

Solicitation and coordination of academic forums, conferences, exhibits and events related to the 250th celebration. Responsible for promoting opportunities to participate in 250th (and receive grant funding) to faculty and academic departments, and ensuring breadth and depth of faculty engagement in the anchor events and throughout the celebration period.

Anchor Events:

Oversight and coordination of the two major anchor events: spring 2014 (commemorating the granting of the Charter and engaging the Providence and Rhode Island communities in the 250th celebration) and September 2014 (campus celebration).

Community Engagement:

Responsible for outreach and communication to the Providence and Rhode Island communities to encourage and promote active involvement and engagement in the 250th celebration. Includes, in close coordination with Anchor Events sub-committee, planning and oversight of major spring 2014 event.

Constituent Engagement:

This Sub-Committee will focus on the engagement of the campus community — alumni, faculty, parents, students and staff — in the 250th celebration. Responsibilities will include: developing strategies for encouraging and coordinating active involvement of all campus constituencies in planning, attending, and supporting commemorative events throughout the celebration period; overseeing outreach and communication to the campus; and developing with staff a process for review and approval of funding grants to organizations proposing events to be included in the 250th celebration. Within the sub-committee, sub-groups may form around specific constituent bodies (e.g., alumni, faculty, parents, students and staff).

250th Identity and Theme Development:

Responsible for developing an overall theme and identity for the 250th celebration. Oversight of development of the 250th logo and general look and feel of visual material.

Memorabilia:

Responsible for developing ideas and plans for memorabilia and take-aways associated with the 250th and for use and distribution at various celebration events.

Publications:

Oversight, planning, coordination and quality assurance of 250th celebration publications, including web, video, electronic and printed communications and publications associated with the 250th.

Regional Events:

The sub-committee will work to ensure that the 250th anniversary regional events, particularly those involving President Paxson, are strategically selected and aligned with the priorities and objectives of the 250th anniversary as outlined by the Steering Committee, and more broadly, with the priorities and objectives of Advancement and the University. Key outcomes include enhanced engagement of Brown's diverse global community, strategic alignment across units and resource maximization.

Technology and Social Media:

Advise on the planning and implementation of the technology (web and affiliated) and social media strategies and components that are developed for the 250th anniversary celebration. Responsible for working with Brown's internal Technology & Social Media team and any external partners to ensure that tech and social media components are well thought out, cleanly developed and serve as key contributors in building and maintaining broad community engagement and participation throughout the 250th anniversary period and beyond. Will also collaborate with and receive guidance from the Publications committee to ensure consistency in tone and content.