Brown welcomes talented group of 59 new faculty members

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — From an expert in African American religion and music to an economist studying school quality, from a clean energy engineer to one of the nation's most recognized public health leaders, Brown University will welcome a dynamic group of new faculty members for the 2020-21 academic year.

The 59 new professors, lecturers, researchers and teaching faculty will serve in nearly 30 different academic departments, research centers and institutes across campus. In welcoming the new faculty, Brown Provost Richard M. Locke noted that this extraordinary moment in time underscores the need for a vibrant intellectual community working together to understand, explore and solve problems in a complex world.

"At Brown, we have been tenacious in recruiting top scholars from around the world, because rising to complex challenges — like tackling structural racism or finding treatments and vaccines for current and future pandemics — requires the very best minds," Locke said. "Making inroads in these areas also requires authentic opportunities for collaboration across disciplines, which is a defining characteristic of Brown. I'm very excited to welcome this tremendous group of new faculty to the University, and I look forward to seeing them working together to enrich our scholarly community and work toward a better world."

The class of new faculty reflects Brown's strategic efforts to recruit top scholars from research areas in which Brown is uniquely poised to have a meaningful impact. Those areas, articulated in Brown's Building on Distinction strategic plan, include among others deciphering disease and improving population health, creating peaceful, just and prosperous societies, and exploring human experience. Guidance and strategic investments from Brown's Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan helps to assure that new faculty represent the varied backgrounds and experiences critical to creating a vibrant scholarly community.

"These scholars and educators represent the very best of their fields," Locke said. "I know our students will benefit immensely from their knowledge, their experience and their excellence."

The following is a full list of new faculty members.