2022-2023

Mia McKinney, Campus Life Fellow

In the summer of 2022, Mia started as the Campus Life Fellow after just graduating from Brown with a concentration in Africana Studies. In this role, Mia assists with both internal and external communications of the Division of Campus Life by helping to maintain the integrity of the Division while also figuring out ways for the administration to keep a hand on the pulse of the student body. Additionally, she supports senior staff members of Campus Life, providing a student perspective in addressing the issues facing the Division. Lastly, Mia oversees and manages the Campus Life Student Advisory Board, a group of students that exists as a resource for the Division of Campus Life to remain connected to the student body. 

As an undergraduate student, Mia was heavily involved in Student Activities with a focus in the performing arts.  She held leadership positions in the acapella and student theater communities, as well as one of the Student Coordinators of the Underground Thursdays performing arts programming series. Her work in the student performing arts was focused on creating inclusive spaces where students were free to create art in safe environments. Theater in particular has a history of exclusion of marginalized voices and a part of Mia’s work at Brown was attempting to craft strategic spaces where marginalized voices were not only heard but highlighted and uplifted. She believes that art is a powerful tool for expression and community building. It can be used to critique the realities people face and imagine new worlds that push the boundaries of the status quo. 

In her free time, Mia enjoys singing, playing the piano, going on long walks, and experimenting in the kitchen.

2020-2022 

Akash Altman, Campus Life Fellow & Special Assistant to the Vice President for Campus Life

Graduating in the Brown University Class of 2020 with an A.B. in Engineering, Akash is a strong leader and has extensive experience in community building, leadership development, vision building, relationship management, and social justice. With a deep involvement and investment in the University community, Akash has developed a breadth and depth of knowledge and experience advancing the needs of students through collaborative dialogue with an emphasis on empathy, equity, and sustainability. Akash believes in the importance of the inclusion of student voice in our work and cares deeply about the holistic student experience.

As Campus Life Fellow, Akash provided student-centered perspectives and leadership to critical community and student-centered programs, including the Leadership Development Initiative, Campus Life Student Advisory Board, Disability Justice Student Initiative, JUST Lead (Justice-oriented, Understanding, Supportive, and Transformative Leadership), and more. Akash advised the division leadership on current student experience and needs and completed various special projects. Additionally, Akash collaborated with staff in the cultural and identity centers on student-centered programs and initiatives like the Third World Transition Program, Minority Peer Counselor Program, and programs for Military-Affiliated Students. Akash helped the team maintain a strong connection and interactive relevance to student culture and needs during a period of time when connections with students on campus, in Providence, and beyond had never been more important.

2019-2020

Soyoon Kim, Program Coordinator at the Global Brown Center for International Students

Soyoon Kim will be joining the Global Brown Center for International Students as the program coordinator through the Campus Life Fellow Program, after graduating from Brown in May with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Education Studies. In this new role, Soyoon will work to design a First-Year and Sophomore Experience Series for international students focused on community-building, navigating campus resources, and identity development. In addition, she will also collaborate with campus stakeholders within the Division of Campus Life and Global Brown to develop asset-based, intersectional programs in order to cultivate a campus environment that is inclusive of international student communities. These programs will promote cross-center collaboration and will support the work of the Institute for Transformative Practice (ITP). 

During her time at Brown, Soyoon has been engaged with the Center in various capacities throughout the past two years, both as a two-time International Mentoring Program (IMP) Mentor and as an active leader of internationally-focused student organizations. She's also worked with the Sarah Doyle Center for Women and Gender and the Brown Center for Students of Color as co-coordinator for Brown Asian Sisters Empowered (BASE) and as former managing-editor of VISIONS Magazine. Her senior thesis focuses on lessons learned from undergraduate experience on navigating institutionalization of Diversity and Inclusion within Higher Education. In recognition for her contributions to the campus community, Soyoon received the Alfred H. Joslin Award in 2019.  

2018-2019

Renata Mauriz​, Student Success Program Coordinator at the First-Generation College and Low-Income Student (FLi) Center

Renata Mauriz `17.5 will be joining the First-Generation College and Low-Income Student (FLi) Center from 2018-2019 as the student success program coordinator through the Campus Life Fellow Program.  In this new role, Renata will aid in developing comprehensive programs that provide navigational, social, and academic support to undocumented, first-generation college, and low-income students at Brown University. Specifically, Renata will collaborate with campus stakeholders to create an equity asset-based transition program for FLi students and coordinate educational programming that enhances the support offered through the Center’s Undocumented Student Initiative. 

During her time at Brown, Renata advocated alongside other students and administrators to change institutional policies and practices that previously created barriers for undocumented students. Renata cultivated her collaborative and transformative approach to institutional change during the time she served as a community organizer at the Wind of the Spirit Immigrant Resource Center and policy intern for the National Immigration Law Center.  These professional opportunities, coupled with her personal experiences, led to her engagement with the Brown Center for Students of Color, as well as the FLi Center. In recognition for her contributions to the campus community, Renata received the Alfred H. Joslin Award in 2017.  

2017-2018

Molly Sandstrom, Peer Education Specialist at BWell Health Promotion

Molly worked to design and build HEALTHy Athletes, a curriculum-based, peer education program designed specifically for student-athletes. With 40 varsity athlete peer educators, the program represents a dozen teams across men’s and women’s programs at Brown. The mission of the program is to support healthier athletes, teams, and campus through improved team dynamics, leadership development, and peer advocacy. 

The program recognizes and builds upon pre-existing support systems by providing new information and skills, as well as professional guidance. Molly worked with peer educators to prepare them to plan, schedule, and lead workshops with their teams. With the development of a new curriculum (informed by student-athletes and tailored specifically to their needs), a strong rate of return on recruitment efforts and high program satisfaction reflected in participant feedback, the program is well positioned to continue serving the Brown community in years to come