President Christina H. Paxson invites Patricia Poitevien ’94, ’98 MD, Brown’s new vice president for campus life, to reflect on her role.

This work has never been more urgent. Students are navigating a rapidly changing world shaped by new technologies, shifting social landscapes, and heightened concerns about belonging and well-being. Campus Life stands at the forefront of sustaining community, protecting equity, and cultivating resilience at a time when the very purposes of higher education are being questioned and reimagined.

As I think about how best to lead this work, I often return to my training as a pediatrician and my perspective as an alumna. As a physician, I was usually the new face in the room, charged with earning the trust of families at vulnerable moments. That sense of responsibility to listen carefully, respond with compassion, and act with integrity guides my approach to this role as well. Trust is at the core of how we support students, families, faculty, and staff across every dimension of life at Brown.

The PLME program, too, gave me an extraordinary foundation for this work. As an undergraduate, I majored in French literature while also completing my pre-medical studies. That dual path reflected Brown’s ethos: to pursue what sparks joy and curiosity, while also building the discipline and skills to serve others. PLME taught me to be comfortable navigating complexity—to hold science and art, rigor and empathy, tradition and innovation—all at once. It is that mindset I bring now as a leader, believing education is most transformative when students are empowered to bring their full selves to the table.

Coming back to Brown has also given me perspective. I know firsthand what it feels like to arrive on campus full of hope, uncertainty, and excitement. I also know that what endures most from the Brown experience are the relationships—the peers who became lifelong friends, the mentors who believed in me, the moments of vulnerability that grew into resilience. Those memories remind me that the work of Campus Life is not peripheral; it is central to how students learn to belong, to persist, and to flourish.

As I step into this chapter, I carry both the pride of being a Brunonian and the responsibility of stewarding today’s students through their own journeys. Our alumni community knows well that Brown is not defined by a single path but by the intersections of many—scientists, artists, activists, entrepreneurs, educators—all shaped by an environment that values openness, dialogue, and the free exchange of ideas. It is my privilege to help sustain that environment and ensure that the next generation of Brown students leaves here not only with knowledge but also with the resilience, empathy, and courage to lead.

Read Winter’s President’s Spread on "Fulfilling a Vision of Impact Through Research" here (PDF).