Her role at Brown dovetails with her life beyond campus, in which she serves on several local boards, including the Women and Infants Hospital Foundation, where she advocates for health care equity, and TIMES2 Academy, a school focused on STEM education for kids. Wallace is also engaged with the African American Museum of Rhode Island and the Inspiring Minds organization, which helps build academic and social-emotional skills for kids at under-resourced schools.

In this Q&A, Wallace reflected on how her heritage and upbringing set her on a lifelong path of connecting people, forging partnerships and empowering others.

Q: Can you share a bit about your background? 

I’m a first-generation Cape Verdean American and the youngest of 10. I highlight that because from the very beginning, I was immersed in a community. All I’ve ever known is people working together: problem-solving, supporting each other, collaborating and fundraising. That sense of community is what I was born into and grew up with. I grew up in Providence, on the South Side, where I attended Reservoir Elementary School, Perry Middle School and later Classical High School. Then we moved to Pawtucket and I transitioned to Shea High School. So I’ve spent most of my life in the urban core between Providence and Pawtucket. For me, it’s been a wonderful experience — learning about different cultures and communities has really shaped who I am today and the work that I do. 

Q: How did your childhood influence the direction of your career?

I’m the only one in my immediate family who was born here in America, and from an early age, I’ve always acted in the role of the liaison — the person that’s the bridge builder. Whether it was translating documents for my mom, helping her fill out applications, assisting my siblings with their résumés and careers, or exploring ways to access government assistance, I’ve always played that role in my family. It taught me to listen, understand different personalities and approach problem-solving effectively. 

My mom’s resilience and optimism also deeply influenced me. She is a single mom and even when faced with difficult situations, she always told me, “There’s always a solution; there’s always a way to figure it out. As long as you’re living and breathing, there’s hope for tomorrow.” That optimism stays with me and is something you can see in my siblings, too. All but one of us are in leadership positions, whether in the military or corporate America. I think the way our mom raised us — to be collaborative and strategic thinkers — has definitely shaped our success.

Q: What was your initial impression of Brown, and how has that changed over time?

My initial view of Brown has shifted. Growing up, I spent a lot of time on Thayer Street, but I didn’t know what the campus buildings were or what the people there did. It didn’t feel inviting. The narrative I heard was a common misperception about Brown: that it was the Ivy League institution on the hill with a big endowment and a reputation for not paying taxes.

Because I understand how Rhode Islanders may perceive Brown, its shapes how I engage with different stakeholder groups, especially Providence community members. A big part of it involves educating people about the work Brown does, and particularly its economic impact. I’ve come to appreciate how much Brown is bridging the gap with the community, and I see people here who are genuinely committed to the University’s mission and vision and who want to connect to the community in meaningful ways.

This has been happening for decades, and I think the new Office of Community Engagement and its increased visibility is helping to show all the community impact. 

Q: For members of the Brown community who are not already involved in community engagement work, how can they get started?

The “Community Engagement Agenda: A Call to Partnership and Action” is Brown’s strategic plan for community engagement across campus. What excited me most about developing it was gathering input from a wide range of stakeholders — about 800 individuals — that shaped 83 strategies and actions that keep us accountable and guide our efforts moving forward. We’re now sharing the agenda with various stakeholder groups, including campus partners and community members. 

I see it as a campus readiness plan, encouraging students, staff and faculty to reflect on their roles — not just professionally but personally. It’s about shifting from a siloed view of “I work at Brown” to recognizing “I’m part of this local community,” and maybe asking yourself, “What does being part of the Providence community look like for you? How can I support or advance the agenda in the multiple roles I play each day?” For example, as a parent, how might we engage in education policy? Or how can we support local businesses, like choosing a neighborhood coffee shop over a chain?

The goal is to think strategically — not just about individual purchasing power but our collective impact. Many of our staff and faculty already serve on boards or volunteer, which is great, but true community engagement goes beyond community service. It’s about embedding ourselves in processes that lead to better outcomes for the stakeholders we care about.

Q: How do you spend your time when you’re not at work?

Family. I spend the majority of my time with my husband and two kids. We love exploring the city — visiting museums, attending events or trying out local small businesses. This past fall, both of our kids played soccer, so I embraced being a soccer mom. We aim to do a sport every season. 

I’m also an active member of New Life Church in Central Falls, where I sing in the choir, serve as church secretary and plan events. I’ve organized conferences like the Young Adults for Christ Conference, focused on empowering young people to connect their faith with their lives. Currently, I’m planning a conference aimed at bridging generational gaps and traditions. 

Q: What do you enjoy most about working at Brown? 

The people. Brown is home to an incredibly supportive and intelligent community. Whenever I bring up community engagement work, there’s immediate interest — people’s eyes light up and they eagerly share ideas about how their work can connect to and support community engagement. It’s been truly wonderful.