Janet Blume is the Deputy Provost at Brown University, where she plays a key role in shaping and executing academic strategy, policies, and plans. In her role, she represents the provost on a range of projects, committees, and meetings, while overseeing the daily operations of the provost’s office, ensuring efficient workflows and clear communication channels. Janet also has oversight of several academic affiliates within the university.
Janet has been a faculty member in Brown’s School of Engineering since 1986, specializing in the Mechanics of Solids and Structures. Her research focuses on the mathematical challenges related to the behavior of materials undergoing large deformations. Known for her teaching, she has contributed across all levels of the graduate and undergraduate engineering curriculum, with a particular reputation for her work in introductory engineering courses.
She earned her Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Princeton University, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1982, and went on to receive a PhD in Applied Mechanics from the California Institute of Technology in 1986. Over the course of her career, Janet has been honored with several awards, including the Philip J. Bray Award for Excellence in Teaching in the Physical Sciences (1997), the School of Engineering Dedicated Faculty Award (2009), and the Karen T. Romer Prize for Excellence in Advising (2011).