The Frederick Lippitt and Mary Ann Lippitt House, 96 Waterman Street

The Sheridan Center is located at The Frederick Lippitt and Mary Ann Lippitt House at 96 Waterman Street. The Lippitt House recognizes the extraordinary contribution of this brother and sister to the Brown University. Descendants of many distinguished alumni of the University, including their father Henry Frederick Lippitt, the Lippitt endowments of University initiatives is inspiring. Mr. Lippitt (1916-2005) served as a member of the Brown Corporation, Senior Fellow of the Board of Fellows, Fellow of the John Carter Brown Library, and on the Advisory Board of the Sheridan Center. He was a leader in education and public service throughout the state of Rhode Island. Miss Lippitt (1918-2006) was a path-breaking female aviator and flight instructor. She was an active leader of many women's social initiatives, including education, health, welfare and athletics.

In addition to an endowment for the Sheridan Center, Mr. Lippitt’s gifts include two professorships (Political Science and History). Miss Lippitt endowed two professorships in medicine (Orthopedics) and Women’s Athletics, amongst other legacies. They were recognized in 2004 with the President’s Medal, the highest honor the President of the University may bestow. The Sheridan Center endowment will ensure the enduring quality of undergraduate, graduate and medical education through support for the professional development of Brown faculty and graduate students. The Lippitt House will stand as a testament to the foresighted commitment to education as the foundation for a responsible democratic society by both Frederick and Mary Ann Lippitt.

The Lippitt House was renovated in 2002-3 specifically to provide a location for the Harriet W. Sheridan Center for Teaching and Learning as a center for the professional development of the Brown teaching community. The mission of the Center is to support professional development in teaching and research which will ensure learning at Brown University and throughout higher education. The Center builds upon the unique and historic commitment of the University to excellence in teaching by recognizing the diversity of learning styles and exploring the richness of teaching approaches. In order to encourage the exchange of ideas about teaching and learning, both within and across disciplines, the Center consults and collaborates with the faculty, administration, graduate and undergraduate students. The Center offers a broad range of programs, lectures and publications that address interdisciplinary pedagogical issues; in addition, it assists departments and programs to realize the specific needs and potential of their disciplines.

The design and allocation of space in the Lippitt House reflect the mission, goals and objectives of the Center. In addition, the entire building has been wired by CIS so that the Center can support advanced use of technology for teaching and learning. Much of the artwork throughout the Center is by current and former Brown students.

The Center was dedicated on Friday, April 20, 2007, by President Ruth Simmons.