All recognized organizations must be open to all Brown students regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or caste.
Astronaut Training
Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology Graduate Advisory Board (BMEB)
The BioMedical Engineering Board (BMEB) was established in the spring of 2019 by graduate students to facilitate student-faculty and student-program cohesion by increasing graduate student representation in program decisions and creating opportunities to solicit and implement iterative feedback. The proposed avenues for student involvement aim to create a more cohesive program community in which graduate students feel valued and respected and have the opportunity to create meaningful relationships outside of their primary advisor and lab.
- Program Climate: Kiera Dwyer
- Program Cohesion: Josephine Kalshoven
- Invited Speakers: Graylen Chickering
- Diversity and Inclusion: Ronnie LaMastro
- Corporate Outreach: Alec McCall
- Community Outreach: Quianna Vaughan
- Faculty Meeting Observers: Mark Daley
- Masters Advocacy: Alex Marzoratti
(Updated 24 March 2023)
Brown University Aikido Club
The purpose of Brown University – RISD Aikido Club is to provide all its members a medium to:
1. Have fun learning a world-renowned non-combative and non-aggressive martial art.
2. Learn self-defence skills and conditioning in a safe and harmonious environment.
3. Enhance your physical, emotional and spiritual well-being for a balanced healthier lifestyle.
4. Learn valuable protective and defensive falling skills for improved safety.
5. Reduce your tension and stress.
6. Give yourself a new aura of well-being.
- President: Theodora Kunicki
- Graduate Financial Signatory: Apurba De
- Club Advisor and Chief Instructor: Chris Picardo
(Updated 26 April 2023)
Brown War Watch
Chinese Students and Scholars Association
Grad/Med Christian Fellowship
Graduate African Student Organization (GASO)
Graduate Students of Color in STEM (GSOCnSTEM)
The purpose of the organization GSOCnSTEM is to enhance the intellectual growth, professional success, and social enjoyment of minority graduate students within the STEM disciplines. Our main goals include building a community of graduate students of color in STEM, increasing interaction between faculty and students of color in STEM, and encouraging a pipeline for underrepresented groups in STEM to increase URM representation in STEM.
- President – Farha Mithila
- Vice President – Giovannia Barbosa
- Treasurer – Dominique Barnes
- Secretary – Raphael Britt
- Communications Chair – Kierra Wilk
- Alumni Relations Chair – Janet Joseph
- Events Chair – Anna Nixon
(Updated 26 April 2023)
Graduate Women in Science and Engineering (GWiSE)
Indian Community at Brown
Indian Community at Brown (ICB) is a vibrant graduate student club that embraces the rich cultural heritage of South Asia by commemorating significant festivals such as Diwali, Holi, and Vaisakhi. Moreover, ICB is committed to fostering a sense of community among South Asian-origin students at Brown University by hosting engaging events, including annual orientation parties for incoming freshmen. By bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds, ICB provides a dynamic platform for socializing, networking, and enjoying delectable cuisine while forming meaningful connections with fellow graduate students.
- Srijan Neogi
- Harsh Jagad
- Muskaan Patel
(Updated 26 April 2023)
Iranian Graduate Students Association
Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (oSTEM)
The Ratty
Samuel M. Nabrit Black Graduate Student Association
Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics Student Chapter (SIAM)
Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)
Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) is an inclusive organization dedicated to fostering the success of Latinx and Native Americans, from college students to professionals, in attaining advanced degrees, careers, and positions of leadership in STEM. As Brown University’s Chapter of SACNAS, we continuously work to foster an inclusive community and resilient network of scientists from underrepresented identities in STEM at Brown University and beyond. Our mission, as a chapter, is to promote and achieve true diversity in STEM through professional development, civic engagement, and community building.
Brown SACNAS Chapter Goals:
- To bring scientists to Brown University, who will share SACNAS’ ideals, interact with the students and provide them with opportunities.
- To increase the number of Brown University students that present their research at the annual SACNAS national conference.
- To reach out to our local community to increase awareness of careers in science and higher education.
(Updated 24 March 2023)
Tango@Brown
Tango@Brown is the only student club at Brown University dedicated to the teaching and learning of the dance of tango. Through a shared passion and appreciation for this dance, club members come together to learn how to improve their skills as dancers and how to communicate as dance partners. Our purpose is to teach, learn, and dance tango in an inclusive, welcoming community open to undergraduate students, graduate students and beyond at Brown University. We encourage all dancers at Brown University to join us and share in our love for this art form!
- President: Chanelle Dupuis
(Updated 24 March 2023)
South Asian Students in STEM (SASS)
South Asian Scholars in STEM (SASS) is the first of its kind professional development organization working to provide networking support to anyone identifying as South Asian and in the STEM field. This group is open to graduate students, medical students, post-docs, and visiting scholars at Brown.
- President: Ramisa Fariha
- Vice President and Treasurer: Swar Daekin
- Secretary: Asad Khan
(Updated 24 March 2023)
Brown University Shape Note
Brown University Shape note sings shape note music (also known as Sacred Harp, the title of its main repertoire). It is a New England and Appalachian-based folk singing style and repertoire that is entirely participatory and, since its revival in the 20th century, has become a secular and highly inclusive musical practice. You can learn more about it here. Our group offers an inclusive community for new and experienced singers to gather biweekly, including Brown graduates, undergraduates, staff, faculty, and Providence community members.
- Student Co-organizer: Gabriel Zuckerberg
- Student Co-organizer: Devanney Haruta
- Staff Facilitator: Jesse Polhemus
(Updated 24 March 2023)
French Theory Reading Group (FTRG)
The French Theory Reading Group (FTRG) is a graduate student group that focuses on reading theoretical texts of French or Francophone origin (or texts which are inspired by such theoretical traditions). Each year our meetings are organized around a theme or question. The goal of the group is two-fold. 1. To better understand theoretical approaches that have influenced a variety of humanities disciplines. 2. To reflect on how these approaches influence and/or inform our own research. The group is open to all graduate students with all levels of comfort and/or experience reading theoretical texts. Our focus is on tackling our readings collaboratively in the spirit of mutual support. To get updates about FTRG meetings, please subscribe to our listerv.
- Organizer: Abigail Culpepper
(Updated 26 April 2023)
Brown Chapter of the American Mathematical Society (AMS)
The Brown AMS Chapter is a community of graduate students interested in mathematics and mathematics research.
Goals: The group aims to support the professional development and growth of its members and provide opportunities to present research and network with others in mathematics.
- Aidan Backus
- Steven Creech
- Alina Al Beaini
(Updated 26 April 2023)
Instructions for starting a new student group:
Do you have at least 10 people, half of whom are graduate students, who are interested in starting a graduate student group on campus? If so, you can be recognized through the Graduate Student Council.
Benefits of group recognition:
- Participation in the BearLink portal. This system tracks all student groups and provides an internal mechanism by which any Brown University student can find your group. Group leaders and members can upload documents and send messages through BearLink. This is especially useful for record keeping as group leadership changes.
- Use of Brown University services, including Today@Brown, room reservation privileges and the option to have a financial account. All of these privileges require an up-to-date BearLink profile.
- Advertising of your events through the GSC social media channels.
Process for group recognition:
- Assemble at least 10 interested Brown community members (undergraduates, graduate students, staff and/or faculty). At least half must be graduate students.
- Complete the application form.
- Send the completed application form to gsc_nominations@brown.edu and gsc_vpadmin@brown.edu for review.
- The Nominations committee, under the direction of the Chair of Nominations and The Vice President of Advocacy, will review your application.
- Criteria:
- Application is thorough, well thought out and comprehensive.
- The purpose of the group is not already met in some other way on Brown’s campus.
- The group shows clear mechanisms for the continuation of the group beyond the current membership (long term planning).
- Once reviewed by the nominations committee, your group will receive either approval, approval with caveats, or denial.
- Approval: In this case, your group is connected with the Student Activities Office who facilitates the set up of your groups accounts.
- Approval with caveats: In this case, your application is mostly in good shape but requires 1 or 2 improvements. We will provide an explanation, and you will set a timeline for returning the improved document. Then your application will go back to the nominations committee for a second review and ideally be approved at that point.
- Denial: In this case, there are weaknesses in your application that are too extensive for approval with caveats, or it does not meet all of the criteria explained above. We will provide a summary of the deficits. You group is welcome to reapply, but will be treated as a new application when the improved application is submitted.