During a joyful event in May, more than 70 Brunonians came together to share stories, catch up, and celebrate her impact on Brown’s Latinx community.
Throughout her decades-long career as associate director of admissions, Mercedes Domenech helped to diversify Brown’s student body through supportive outreach to members of the Latinx community. She broke down barriers, eased anxieties, and reassured families that their students could thrive on College Hill.
During this celebration, Brunonians came out to honor her continued legacy and the expanding number of Latinx scholars in the Brown community.
Mercedes Domenech shared some of her stories and expressed her gratitude to alumni for their support of the Mercedes Domenech Brown University Latino Alumni Council Endowed Scholarship Fund.
Jennifer Yerex Welch ’92 (in purple) and Graciela Gerace Cerda ’93, P’22 embrace during the reception.
William Acevedo ’88, Sandra Cruz ’04, and Rosanna Castro ’04 (left to right) catch up during the reception.
Rosanna Castro ’04 (center, in black) and Ivon Rodriguez de Perez ’00 EMBA’16 (right, in blue) listen as Mercedes Domenech addresses the group of Brunonians.
Victor Cerda ’92, P’23, one of the former students who benefitted from Mercedes’ guidance, was instrumental in organizing this event. He credits Mercedes for his decision to come to Brown and has been inspired to continue to pay it forward for the next generation of Latinx students.
“Those of us who Mercedes touched in our Brown journey owe it to her…to help other Latinx students experience Brown and its opportunities,” says Cerda. “It is time for the Mercedes 'alums' to pay it forward.”
A leader and advocate in Brown’s Latinx community, Victor joined other Brown University Latino Alumni Council (BULAC) leaders and donors—including Sue Rivera ’91, P’22, and Graciela Gerace Cerda ’93, P’23—in an initiative to rename the BULAC Endowed Scholarship Fund in Mercedes’ honor in 2019. Since then, the Mercedes Domenech BULAC Endowed Scholarship Fund has recently reached its $1 million funding goal, and all new funds will be part of a current-use BULAC scholarship fund—also named for Mercedes—this coming year.
Support diversity at Brown by giving to the BULAC BAF Scholarship today.