Class of 2020

Jan, 2024
The Family Business
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Aug, 2023
Strait Talk Across Rough Waters
A student-run program gets young people from China and Taiwan talking. Read More
Jun, 2023

Alan DeClerck writes: “Sending you my first update, I think, in 45 years! After decades in Northern California, I’m relocating to Paris for the next couple of years and focused on Europe, the Middle East, and Africa activities. It would be nice to connect with classmates in Europe, either through alan.declerck@gmail.com or alan@leolabs.space. Turns out Paris is a good place to get a meal, and I’m (too) happy to talk about the exciting changes in the space industry these days. I’m enjoying keeping in touch with some of our classmates and connected in the past year with George Barrett, Jean Follett, not to mention many brothers from Phi Psi. So many interesting outcomes and achievements. Like so many of you, my greatest joy by far is watching my kids build purposeful lives, including my youngest, Hana ’20. Best to all.”

Alan DeClerck ’77 & family
Jan, 2023
A Class Trip Do-Over
COVID may have delayed them, but Germany was still calling. Read More
Aug, 2022
Rhode Island’s Opioid Crisis, Exposed
A data-driven dive into how, even in the smallest state, billions of addictive pills were manufactured, prescribed, and abused. Read More
Jun, 2022

Pierre Lipton was included on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. He is cofounder of 1440 Media, which releases a free, ad-supported daily email newsletter, leaning on fact-based reporting and primary research to summarize events in a way that Americans across the political spectrum can agree on.

Jan, 2022
Curating the Ephemeral
How do you exhibit work by artists whose main point is rejecting museums and galleries? Read More
Jan, 2022

Jeff Stewart writes: “Breakaway Partners was acquired by Komodo Health. What is interesting is the high concentration of Brown folks on the Breakaway side! There is Andrew Laubscher ’07 (married to Amanda Puffer ’05, ’08 ScM), PJ Santoro ’04, and myself (married to Karen Steinig ’91, parent to two sons ’20 and ’24). Also on our team are Andrew Coggins ’18 and Dylan Groos ’19. A nice ‘conclusion’ to a gathering of several Brunonians across a few decades.” 

Nov, 2021
In the news

Janet Leung ’16 earned a Bronze medal in women’s softball with Team Canada in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Other Brown Bears competing included Hanna Barakat ’21 of Team Palestine in track and field; Jagger Stephens ’20 represented Guam in swimming; and Cicely Madden ’18, Alex Miklasevich ’19, and Anders Weiss ’15 competed for Team USA in rowing events.

Aug, 2021
Phone Aid
Emergency medical training at your fingertips Read More
Jun, 2021
Emerging Victorious
Meet seven of the many exemplary students who thrived—and graduated—despite the pandemic. Read More
Jun, 2021
Working Class Hero
A senior thesis on a legendary Panamanian boxer Read More
Jun, 2021
Passages
The vaccine, commencement, and the passing of Vartan Gregorian. Read More
Apr, 2021

Arya Okten published her first book, The Mathematical Investigations of Dr. O and Arya, with Tumblehome Inc. She and her father, Giray, cowrote the book based on workshops they used to present together to middle school students. The book aims to make advanced mathematical topics accessible and enjoyable to kids and uses a combination of games, history, and cartoons to explain topics from number theory to probability. 

Mar, 2021
The Man Who’s Everywhere
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Mar, 2021
Failure to Pay
Student journalists expose the ongoing, illegal practice of insisting court defendants pay fines they’ll never be able to afford. Read More
Oct, 2020
State of Play
This spring, Brown overhauled its athletics program. Varsity teams went club and vice versa, protests and lawsuits ensued, and some teams were reinstated. Read More
Aug, 2020
Justice, in Community
A non-punitive approach Read More
Jun, 2020
First Responders
Many students rushed to help as COVID hit. A look at two group efforts. Read More
May, 2020
Mid-March
BAM interns on the spring’s sudden shift Read More
May, 2020
Woman in Charge
Meet the ROTC Patriot Battalion’s female leader Read More
May, 2020
Nevertheless, They Persisted
Meet seven extraordinary students graduating into a new world. Read More
Apr, 2020
Leggings 24/7
Five minutes with Cat Buthod ’20, on her current obsession Read More
Apr, 2020
Funny Girls
The Rib launches women into comedy careers Read More
Apr, 2020
1,000 Rejections
How to get a cartoon in the New Yorker Read More
Jan, 2020
Not Even Looking at My Grades
Oren Karp ’20 "went crazy" with the New Curriculum. Read More
Jan, 2020
From Scholarship to Shelter
Student research bolstered legislation to stop housing discrimination in R.I. Read More
Jan, 2020
How Open is “Open”?
First-gen college students still encounter socioeconomic walls. Read More
Jan, 2020
A Major of One’s Own
Independent concentrations are a flagship of the Open Curriculum.
Here are 5 being pursued today. Read More
Jan, 2020
Fixed It.
A better deal for Brown vets Read More
Nov, 2019
Fighting for Their Future
Lauren Maunus ’19 and Emma Bouton ’20 have been on the front lines of the growing youth environmental movement. Read More
Nov, 2019
Hitting the Grad Center Bar
Yutong Liu ’20 Read More
Nov, 2019
Adios, Amniocentesis?
Testing for genetic abnormalities with a simple swab of the cervix Read More
Nov, 2019
Underwear for Everyone
A website where women with disabilities can buy intimate apparel that actually works—and read about fashion and sex Read More
Nov, 2019
“You Belong Here”
The Third World Transition Program celebrates 50 years Read More
Sep, 2019
The Stigma Slayer
A student-founded arts organization combats silence around mental illness. Read More
Sep, 2019
Arrrcappella Anniversary
The Pirates turn 20 Read More
Sep, 2019
Scooter Mania
Rental scooters are College Hill’s new ride. Read More
Jul, 2019
Robing Them Right
Ginie Callas ’48 has outfitted decades of honorary degree recipients Read More
May, 2019
Sober Spring Break
Fun and connection for an "invisible minority" Read More
May, 2019
Forever Light
The sun will trace an infinity symbol on a new campus sundial Read More
May, 2019

Judith MacIntosh O’Neill and Thomas J. O’Neill III have been enjoying retirement for many years now, spending time with their family and traveling the world. They traveled for a month in Central Asia visiting Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. Tom plays trombone in a number of swing bands and orchestras and Judith remains busy gardening and knitting. "It was a fabulous trip learning about these newly free countries. We are thrilled that our granddaughter Claire Harrison ’20 is enjoying Brown. Her parents are Christine O’Neill Harrison ’91 and Marc Harrison ’92."

May, 2019

Class secretary David Nichols reports the Class of 1952 Endowment Scholarship fund was presented to Reed Jaworski ’20, with a concentration is math, physics, and philosophy, for the fiscal year 2017-2018 and to Natalie Montufar ’21, with a goal to attend medical school and become a neurosurgeon to help people with Alzheimer’s disease, for the fiscal year 2018-2019.

Jan, 2019
Valentine Wars
Dueling Facebook pages help students connect Read More
Nov, 2018
The 0.3 Percent
Brown's small but expanding community of students who are military veterans Read More
Sep, 2018
Crossing the Political Divide
Americans are more divided than ever. Can we reclaim middle ground? Read More
Sep, 2018
Coffee Catch
The java’s free—just hand over your data Read More
Sep, 2018
Working Vacation
Eight undergrads told us where and how they spent their summer Read More
Sep, 2018
Portraits of Love
A student uplifts women with cancer and their care teams Read More
Jul, 2018
Applied Academics
Engaged scholars put what they’re learning into immediate action Read More
May, 2018
Make Art
Brown-Trinity Rep MFA programs receive full tuition scholarships in the 2018-2019 academic year. Read More
Jan, 2018
Waiting for Trebek
"I've always been a bit of a dork," says Jeopardy! contestant (and BAM intern) David Kleinman ’20. Read More

Obituaries

Apr, 2024

Alexander G. Burdo ’20, of Fairfield, Conn., and Yarmouth Port, Mass.; Oct. 29. He was diagnosed with osteosarcoma at age 12. His obituary read, “No matter the state of his health, he didn’t let the disease limit him, rather he used it to live life fully, casting away any thoughts of mortality. Alex had a deep love and respect for all birds, which he often credited with saving his life and his six years in remission; his favorite was the Florida scrub jay. From the age of ten he wanted to be an ornithologist and could often be seen with binoculars draped around his neck and a bird guide in hand.” In 2010 at age 13, he was the youngest recipient of the L.L. Bean  Outdoor Heroes award for his dedication to the Connecticut Audubon Society. He was a founding member and served as president of the Connecticut Young Birders Association and was  involved in banding at the Birdcraft Sanctuary in Fairfield. He was also a volunteer at the Wing Island Bird Banding Station in Brewster, Mass. In addition to being an Avian Point-Count Technician at the Intermountain Bird Observatory in Montana, he was active with the Connecticut and Massachusetts Audubon Societies, participating in the Christmas Bird Counts in both states. While at Brown, he wrote for the Brown Political Review, was a member of Kellner Lab, and was a teaching assistant. Additionally, he was a research assistant for two of his advisors studying the white-collared manakin in Costa Rica; the resulting work is being prepared for publication. For many years he maintained his blog, aphelocoma.com, where he’d write about birds and travels. He also enjoyed photography, politics, geography, history, astronomy, linguistics, music, the Boston Red Sox, the Miami Dolphins, and University of Michigan football. His memory was remarkable and he could relay the statistics for any major league player, give the scientific names for thousands of birds, discuss current global politics, and recite song lyrics from the 1970s. He is survived by his girlfriend Ann Walters;  his parents; two sisters; and many extended family and friends.  

 

Aug, 2023

Pierre S.M. Lipton ’20, of Charlotte, N.C.; Feb. 4, unexpectedly after crossing the finish line at the Mesa Marathon in Arizona. It was his personal best for distance in just over 3 hours and 10 minutes. He died of what doctors believe was “some sudden electrolyte imbalance that caused arrhythmia,” his father told the Boston Globe. He was valedictorian at Myers Park High School and volunteered at an orphanage in Panama to teach English and math before attending Brown to study economics and Middle Eastern studies. Always concerned about others, he started VitaLives while still a student—a company aimed at reducing malnutrition and vitamin deficiency. In addition, he became COO of the news company 1440 Media, cofounded by Tim Huelskamp and Andrew Steigerwald, which was created to share fact-focused information with the world. Pierre told EIN News in January 2022: “The news used to be something that brought people together. The whole family would sit around the TV, radio, or newspaper and consume the same information. Now, that couldn’t be further from the truth. At 1440, we believe the news can still be a way for people to connect.” As a result of his hard work and success, he was named Rhode Island INNO under 25 in 2020 and was featured on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2022. “He accomplished more than anyone I know in just 26 years, but he still had so many plans,” his girlfriend, Eleanor Pereboom, wrote in an Instagram post. He spoke Spanish and Arabic and was learning Italian in anticipation of a planned trip in May. He was an adventurer and enjoyed travel, music, art, hiking, reading, geography, trivia, Scrabble, running, soccer, tennis, squash, and water skiing. He is survived by his parents, a sister, and his girlfriend Eleanor.

Apr, 2023

Leo M. Shiner ’20, of Hamilton, N.Y.; Sept. 8. At the time of his passing he was enrolled in a master’s program in Second Language Studies at the University of Hawaii. While at Brown, he studied for a semester in Yaroslavl, Russia, concentrated in linguistics and Slavic studies, and was involved in Tech House and Brown's Catholic community. He cared deeply about political issues because of his concern for all marginalized people and started a chapter of Amnesty International in high school. In subsequent years he tutored children, taught English to immigrants, and registered young people and people of color to vote. He enjoyed music and played cello and sang. He was passionate about the preservation of endangered languages and the well-being of the Indigenous people who speak them. He taught himself multiple languages and had been working on designing an innovative language-learning video game that he hoped would make language learning accessible to all people. He shared his humor and knowledge of languages on his linguistics meme pages, the most popular of which, Etymology Memes for Reconstructed Phonemes on Facebook is followed by over 100,000 people around the world. He is survived by his parents, a sister, grandparents, and an uncle.

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