Class of 2021

Aug, 2024
Everybody in the Pool!
Teaching special-needs kids to swim Read More
Aug, 2024
Med-school Swerve
They had other lives—but medicine was calling Read More
Jun, 2024
Physics & Belonging
A Black mentor made the difference Read More
Apr, 2024

Jessica Dai writes: “The third issue of Kernel Magazine, an annual print publication about technology and society, is now out! It’s filled with carefully researched yet deeply personal pieces, on topics such as the complications of computer-generated legal evidence, a vision for more holistic climate modeling, and a manifesto for grief as political practice—plus, creative work including fiction, poetry, and visual art. Thirty-six contributors poured their hearts into this project and it was an honor to serve as editor-in-chief. Take a look at kernelmag.io." 

Apr, 2023
Gems and Joy
Read More
Jan, 2023
A Class Trip Do-Over
COVID may have delayed them, but Germany was still calling. Read More
Jan, 2023
Making Robots Dance
At the intersection of choreography and engineering, a course looks at how robots move—and whether we’re programming them toward good or evil. Read More
Nov, 2022

Jeffrey M. Bloom writes: “Hats off to Newell Maynard Stultz, professor emeritus of political science at Brown, who continues to demonstrate insight into the machinations of divided societies and who, in early February of 2022, explained to me how since 2015 it’s been clear that NATO’s expansion meant that Vladimir Putin would one day exact brutal revenge. One reunion weekend years ago, Newell generously shared insights with my sons, David Bloom ’21 (applied mathematics, economics, & political science) and Aaron Bloom (environmental management at Cornell ’23), and I’m sorry that he’s not yet met my daughters (Julia, Biology, Cal Poly ’24 and Ciera, almost 7th grade). It was wonderful to see many of you at our 35th reunion and I hope to see even more of you at our 40th (i.e., less than two years from now). Hats off as well to our classmate Rhonda Gans, who kindly called me to see whether I was okay after one of our California earthquakes. Thanks, Rhonda.”

Aug, 2022
Ultimate Success
Azeez Adeyemi ’21 is national MVP 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
Jul, 2022
Pandemic Puzzles
Five minutes with Ethan Pan ’22 Read More
Jun, 2022
Data-Driven Elder Care
A student startup is driving down hospitalizations in geriatric patients Read More
Jun, 2022
Beyond the Divide
A Hillel program gets Zionist and anti-Zionist students talking. Read More
Jun, 2022
Ready to Roar!
Quarterback E.J. Perry signs with Jaguars Read More
Apr, 2022

Sally Frank writes: “I’m happy to report that my daughter, Zöe Mermelstein ’21, is working as a protection counselor at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Washington, D.C. My husband, Steven Mermelstein, and I were thrilled with Zoë’s experience at Brown, particularly the support she received from professors. We have two other kids in college: Remy is in his fifth year studying architecture at Cornell AAP and Julien is a junior studying political science, econ, and public health at Duke. Our youngest, Leo, is a senior in high school looking into contemporary music/liberal arts programs for college. We moved to the Bay Area just over a year ago and I started a new role heading up philanthropic programs at Agilent. I’m looking for partnership opportunities to promote STEM education in underrepresented groups and mentoring opportunities for our global workforce in STEM and other areas. If you have ideas, please contact me at sally.frank@agilent.com.”

Jan, 2022
Seeking Global Stories
Keeping pace with 10,000 alums outside the U.S. Read More
Jan, 2022
One Day, Two Ivy Titles
Victory was decisive and extra sweet for women’s soccer and volleyball after returning to play this season. Read More
Jan, 2022
An Academic Theory Goes Unexpectedly Viral
Brown scholars on Critical Race Theory, the most divisive topic in American education Read More
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.

Oct, 2021
Separating Fat from Fiction
A student-driven course on “fatphobia” examines both science and stigma. Read More
Oct, 2021
Speak Out
Asian Americans share stories on race and identity Read More
Aug, 2021

Robert Pfeffer writes: “I am still living in New York City while practicing medicine at NYU and on the faculty at the NYU School of Medicine. With the deepest pride imaginable, I want to congratulate my son Matthew Pfeffer ’21 on his graduation from Brown this spring. Way to go Matt! Both of us are ever true.”

Aug, 2021
No-Touch Football
The Bears are heading into the fall season quite unbruised, after their year of social distancing, virtual practices, and zero play. A look at the game plan. Read More
Aug, 2021
Phone Aid
Emergency medical training at your fingertips Read More
Aug, 2021
The New Fishwife
Can tinned seafood be sexy? Read More
Aug, 2021
Bird by Bird
An environmental studies course on birding looks at what separates us from one another and from nature, and what might bring us together. Read More
Aug, 2021
Divine Providence
A new home for the Catholic community Read More
Jun, 2021
Archiving the African Diaspora
Anani Dzidzienyo’s presence was healing; his scholarship, groundbreaking. You could say the same about the class created in his memory. Read More
Jun, 2021
Lessons from the Arab Spring
The uprisings that overtook the Arab world 10 years ago sparked a wealth of new scholarship. Read More
Jun, 2021
Rock ’n Roll Oldies
Five minutes with Greg Elliott, Professor of Sociology Read More
Jun, 2021
Fire-truck Zoom
An unusual COVID classroom Read More
Jun, 2021
Pandemic Problem Solving
A senior specializes in equity-based solutions Read More
Jun, 2021
Unfathomable
A submarine cruising Hillel House Read More
Jun, 2021
Passages
The vaccine, commencement, and the passing of Vartan Gregorian. Read More
Apr, 2021
Brighter Days
Hungering for contact, celebration, and a feeling of lightness. Read More
Mar, 2021
Bankrolling Justice
Trust-fund youth unite to combat inequality Read More
Mar, 2021
Listen Well
10 Podcasts by Brown alums Read More
Mar, 2021
Textiles, Textiles, Textiles
Five minutes with Beth Pollard ’21 Read More
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
Mar, 2021
Follow the Money
Students make national news by exposing who’s been funding the movement to deny climate change. Read More
Mar, 2021
Furnace and Fugue
A digital project brings a book on alchemy to life Read More
Mar, 2021
The Power Within
TWTP’s annual welcome meets Afrofuturism, over Zoom Read More
Jan, 2021

Seth Jackson writes: “My daughter, Mariel Jackson ’21, is the general manager of the Brown Daily Herald. My son, Derek, is at the Columbia University School of Engineering in New York.

Jan, 2021
Filming Food
Five minutes with Anessa Petteruti ’21 Read More
Nov, 2020
Say It Ain’t So, Blueno!
Five minutes with Emilia Ruzicka ’21 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
Oct, 2020
Gigs Are Out the Window
But a student band plays on Read More
Oct, 2020
No Lunch Breaks
A chemist’s COVID schedule Read More
Oct, 2020
Comedy of the Century
The Brown Jug is back Read More
Oct, 2020
Coming to COVID Country
Brown’s international students face red tape and health hazards. Read More
Aug, 2020
A Jamaican American in Paris
Six Questions for Makedah Hughes ’19 Read More
Aug, 2020
Rotten Culture
Why removing “bad apples” won’t fix the police Read More
Aug, 2020
Justice, in Community
A non-punitive approach Read More
Aug, 2020
Flying High
Record-breaking long jumps Read More
Aug, 2020
Old-School Photography
Five minutes with Hasiba Zandi ’21 Read More
Aug, 2020
Disparate Data
The COVID-19 Compiler predicts trouble spots and trends Read More
Jun, 2020
Masks, Meals, Viral Medium
The campus pitches in Read More
Jun, 2020
First Responders
Many students rushed to help as COVID hit. A look at two group efforts. Read More
Jun, 2020
Minecraft campus
A digital version of Brown’s College Hill brings the community together during COVID-19 Read More
May, 2020
Mid-March
BAM interns on the spring’s sudden shift Read More
Apr, 2020
Debt Deterrent
A finance expert teaches kids about money before the banks can find them Read More
Apr, 2020
Funny Girls
The Rib launches women into comedy careers Read More
Apr, 2020
Code Red
Is that tech job worth taking? Read More
Jan, 2020
Born Too Soon
A new book examines the rise in premature births 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
Whichever Way You Wear It
Brown Black Hairitage likes your style Read More
Nov, 2019
World of Pop
A hit podcast decodes popular music 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
They Danced in the Dining Room
Roxanne Barnes ’21 threw benefit parties at the Finlandia co-op Read More
Sep, 2019
Scooter Mania
Rental scooters are College Hill’s new ride. Read More
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.

Mar, 2019
Speed Queen
Sophomore Sydney McKee takes the wheel Read More
Jan, 2019
Louie’s Time
Peter Deegan ’21 loves those 5 a.m. breakfasts Read More
Sep, 2018
Working Vacation
Eight undergrads told us where and how they spent their summer Read More
Sep, 2018
Taking It Home
Revisiting Dad’s country to play international soccer Read More
Sep, 2018
Tomorrow’s Citizens
Scott Warren ’09 started a nationwide program that teaches students civics via local involvement. Read More
May, 2018
Don’t Sit, Walk.
Snow boots and solidarity Read More
May, 2018
Don’t Sit, Walk.
Brown joins the National School Walkout against gun violence. Read More

Obituaries

Apr, 2024

Eliza Banchoff Grover ’21, of Towson, Md., originally from Menlo Park, Calif.; Oct. 7, hit by a drunk driver while walking. At the time of her death, she was studying to be a doctor at Goucher College in Towson. While at Brown she was a research assistant at E.P. Bradley Hospital Sleep Laboratory and a member of Sigma Xi. During the summers, she worked as an intern at Grail, Inc. and as a research assistant at the Stanford Concussion and Brain Performance Center, where she contributed to a published paper on concussion in girls. She returned to Oaxaca, Mexico, where she spent time as a child, with Child Family Health International to study health equity and gain experience in community health centers and hospitals. She loved sports and being part of a team, playing soccer and basketball before settling into volleyball. At Brown she played Division 1 NCAA volleyball as a right-side hitter for the Bears, earning Academic All-Ivy and Academic All-District honors, as well as All-Ivy Honorable Mention twice. An intrepid outdoorswoman, she enjoyed downhill and cross-country skiing, hiking, backpacking, and swimming in mountain lakes. When Covid stripped her of her senior season, she earned her EMT and Wilderness First Aid certifications and worked in a low-income clinic in Providence. She also found her love for running and completed the first of many half-marathons. Upon graduation, she spent a summer leading outdoor trips for Overland Adventures and then moved to Seattle. She joined Rainier Clinical Research Center as a research assistant and then as a clinical research coordinator, helping to implement medical device clinical trials for people with diabetes. This opportunity led to her decision to become a doctor and in May 2023, she began a year of intensive study at Goucher College. She is survived by her parents, two sisters, three grandparents, and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Jun, 2021

Maximilian Y. Lenail ’21, of Palo Alto, Calif.; Jan. 29. He was to graduate from Brown in May 2021 with a concentration in neurobiology, and planned on applying to medical school and becoming a physician. Max had worked in several research labs at Stanford Medicine and for the neuroscience company Inscopix. He participated in many service trips to Central America with the Menlo Church and will be remembered as a peacemaker and for his extraordinary kindness and generosity. He was an exceptional athlete and outdoorsman and had a passion for rock-climbing. He was also a glassblower and chef. He is survived by his parents, grandparents, a brother, two aunts and an uncle. 

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