About the Brown Alumni Association (BAA)
The BAA’s guiding principles
The BAA motivates alumni to engage with the University and advances lifelong connection by:
- Starting Brown’s engagement strategy with applicants and driving a culture of engagement and service to the University
- Aligning alumni programs with the University’s priorities in order to leverage both University programs and alumni resources
- Aligning alumni programs with the interests of alumni and marshalling alumni to provide program stewardship and participation on campus and externally.
BAA's impact on alumni programs & services
In support of its goal of facilitating alumni participation in the worldwide Brown community, the BAA provides substantial funding for alumni programs, while also shaping their direction to better serve alumni. Highlights include:
- Providing two-thirds of the program funding for core alumni programs, including Brown clubs, classes, reunions, and multicultural affinity groups; Back to Class with Brown Faculty; BRUnet/alumni career networking, alumni college advising, and the alumni website; and BASC, the alumni interviewing program.
- Funding research to improve Brown’s understanding of the needs and perspectives of current and future alumni, and guiding the development of alumni programs based on that research.
- Creating new programs to meet alumni needs, including the alumni college advising program, online alumni directory, and BRUnet.
- Setting policy regarding preservation and use of the Maddock Alumni Center.
The BAA also contributes to Brown’s governance by conducting the biennial balloting to elect Alumni Trustees to the Brown Corporation.
BAA’s structure and governance
The Brown Alumni Association is organized as a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation. The alumni body selects the BAA’s President-Elect, Secretary and Treasurer every two years in the Alumni Election. The previous President-Elect becomes President at the next election, for a total of four elected officers who lead the 25-member Board of Governors. When he or she assumes office, the President also begins a six-year term as an Alumni Trustee of the Brown Corporation.
Most board members have distinguished themselves as leaders within Brown’s volunteer programs or alumni communities. Others bring the specialized expertise required for current projects and priorities.
How to get involved
You can contribute to the success of the BAA and of Brown on many levels, depending on your schedule and interests.
- Start out by subscribing to the BAA’s electronic newsletter; using this website; staying in touch with your Brown friends; participating in Brown events and activities near you as time permits, and contributing to the Brown Annual Fund each year.
- Learn the ropes by volunteering for BASC or BRUnet or within your chosen Brown alumni community.
- If you’re interested, move to the next level by volunteering to lead within your chosen Brown activity or community; broaden your experience in different activity/volunteer areas over time.
Successful volunteer leadership can lead to increased engagement with the University and may make you a candidate for other leadership roles, including BAA governance.
Contacting the BAA
By e-mail: alumni@brown.edu
By phone: 401-863-3307
By mail:
Maddock Alumni Center
38 Brown Street / Box 1859
Providence, RI 02912
How the BAA generates revenue
Rather than relying on membership fees, the BAA teams up with carefully selected partners to offer quality, co-branded services to alumni at competitive prices. You help to fund the alumni programs you value when you use these services:
- Brown Alumni Association personal checking and credit cards through Bank of America
- BAA group discounts on auto, home, and renters’ insurance through Liberty Mutual
- BAA discounts on life and short-term medical insurance
Members of the Brown community also support the BAA in two other ways:
- By participating in the famous Campus Dance each Reunion/Commencement Weekend
- By purchasing inscribed bricks in the Maddock Alumni Walkway to honor alumni.
Where the BAA’s dollars are spent
In 2007-08, the BAA's program support was allocated as follows:
- 61% to alumni communities that strengthen alumni affinity with Brown — classes and reunions, clubs, affinity groups, and volunteer leader support
- 23% to facilitate alumni service to Brown — Brown Alumni Schools Committees, alumni leadership conference, alumni recognition
- 10% to specialized alumni services — alumni college advising and alumni careers/networking (electronic, campus-based, and regional programs)
- 6% to alumni learning opportunities — Back to Class with Brown Faculty
The BAA and Alumni Relations
- The BAA Board of Governors, which has no employees, works in close collaboration with Brown’s Alumni Relations department to accomplish a shared mission of involving and serving Brown alumni.
- Alumni Relations staff members are seasoned professionals who, through work with the BAA Board and with leaders of alumni communities, blend their expertise in alumni relations with the knowledge and insights of alumni volunteers from a variety of professions.
- Together, the BAA Board and Alumni Relations staff set policy and direction for alumni programs and services.