A friend like no other: Celebrating Brown friendships

Tales from the dorms, halls, and beyond

Ally (Donahue) Kopec ’18.5  and Jordan Anderson ’19 

I met Jordan Anderson ’19 randomly in a dorm hallway one night. Somehow, it came up that Jordan was from Knoxville, TN, where I was born and lived for the first three years of my life. We kept talking and realized we were next-door neighbors during that time! My mom even found pictures of us dressed up in our Halloween costumes as toddlers with some of the other kids in the neighborhood. Discovering our childhood connection led to Jordan and I becoming friends. One day, he invited me to hang out in Champlin with him and his friend Ryan Kopec ’19. Fast forward to 2022. Ryan and I got married and Jordan was one of our groomsmen. —written by Ally (Donahue) Kopec ’18.5

Patra Kanchanagom ’99 and Theresa Alenghat ’99

During my first year at Brown, my mom often sent me a Costco-sized box of individually wrapped Rice Krispies Treats, and I would share them with friends. A friend of my hallmate asked where she could get one, and she sent her my way! After that, Theresa Alenghat ’99 became one of my closest friends and my constant “going out” buddy at Brown; she was always up for a late night Jo’s run or study session at the Sci Li.  We don’t see each other as often as I’d like, but I know that she is a lifelong friend and one of the best parts of my Brown experience!  —written by Patra Kanchanagom ’99 

Megan K. Iyer ’01 and Janine Giordano Manolakos '01 

Janine Giordano Manolakos '01 was my roommate for all four years and then for two more years in New York City after we graduated. She is from New Jersey and I am from Washington State. Our friendship has spanned time and distance. We were in each other's weddings and are godmothers to each other's children. I am tall and she is short. I’m an extrovert and she’s an introvert. Total opposites and best buddies! Each year, I dragged Janine back to our freshman year room to tell the new residents they would become best friends like us. So many great memories at Brown—including Janine helping my husband Ramesh Iyer '01 propose to me on campus in 2004. —written by Megan K. Iyer ’01  

Elizabeth Mair (Wang) ’21, Abbie Garcia (Hui) '21 ScM'22, and Koyena Pal '21 ScM'22

I met Abbie Garcia (Hui) '21 ScM'22 and Koyena Pal '21 ScM'22 during freshman year on the women’s-only floor of Keeney Quad. Abbie was my roommate and Koyena lived down the hall as a fellow computer science concentrator. We quickly became inseparable, sharing late nights in the Center for Information Technology (CIT), meals at the Ratty, and exploring all the restaurants on Thayer and in Providence. We also bonded over being the only children and daughters of our families. 

During our sophomore year, Abbie and I roomed together again in Hope College with Koyena right next door, and during senior year’s (spring 2021) COVID restrictions, our pod became our only regular in-person connection. We also supported each other while figuring out life after graduation—from grad school applications to finding our life partners. Now spread across Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Virginia, we keep a steady stream of group texts, video chats, and surprise care packages for our birthdays. My favorite memory is celebrating each other’s milestones, such as our COVID-modified graduation without our families present, and my wedding last year, where Abbie and Koyena were my only bridesmaids. —written by Elizabeth Mair (Wang) ’21

Julie Henderson MAT’89 and Rebecca Leamon MAT'89

I came to Brown for the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program in the summer of 1988. I was living in the grad student dorm and it was very hot. I was moving in at the same time as others, and one woman's boyfriend offered to help me carry a fridge up the stairs. The rest is history, and I have been friends with Rebecca Leamon MAT'89 ever since. My MAT cohort is very special and I remain in contact with many of them to this day. —written by Julie Henderson MAT’89 

A sense of belonging 

Edward R. Friedlander ’73 and Jim Miller '73

I grew up under difficult circumstances and was very backwards socially when I arrived at Brown. I was strong academically, but had trouble fitting in. After a month, I was considering whether I wanted to be at Brown or whether I had what it took. Jim Miller '73, an elite wrestler, saw this. He took me aside and told me things would be okay. I owe Jim my life. My road at Brown was hard and there were many disappointments as well as triumphs, but Jim remained a constant, and has been a significant part of my life to this day. Thanks Brown for introducing us. —written by Edward R. Friedlander ’73

Sheila Dixon ’13, Christina “CJ” Johnson-Click '10 AM'13, Sthefany Alviar '12, and Aileen Daniels Weese '12

My closest friends—self-proclaimed as the “Fantastic Four”—are from the Brown University Women’s Basketball team: Christina “CJ” Johnson-Click '10, Sthefany Alviar '12, and Aileen Daniels Weese '12. From the very first moment of my official visit to Providence, these women embraced me. I was just a wide-eyed recruit exploring campus, and they made sure I felt like I belonged—nearly a full year before I even joined the Brown community. Now, over a decade later, that bond remains unshakable. We may go weeks without talking, and sometimes years without seeing each other in person, but our connection is lifelong. These teammates became my sisters—and still are. But the truth is, it extends beyond just the four of us. Thanks to the thoughtful recruiting philosophy of our coaching staff, to not simply recruit talent but to also recruit character, my extended circle of best friends includes teammates from the Brown Women’s Basketball classes of 2010 through 2015. Somehow, within that span, we forged deep, lasting friendships—across years, across rosters, across every possible difference. We are each other’s chosen family. Today, we show up for weddings, to celebrate babies, and everything in between. We call ourselves the Brown Bear aunties to many little bears—and now, to my daughter as well. Simply put: My experience at Brown wouldn’t have been the same without them. I’m endlessly grateful for the love, sisterhood, and community that began on the court and has lasted a lifetime.—written by Sheila Dixon ’13

Denika Kao ’25 and Lauren Chiu ’25

Brown gave me my closest confidant, my fellow traveling buddy, my favorite eating partner—and for that, I will forever be grateful. I met my best friend Lauren Chiu ’25 officially on the first day of the Third World Transition Program (TWTP), but we first connected when I DM’ed her on Instagram prior to starting Brown after seeing a Taiwanese flag in her bio!

Transitioning from a small high school to Brown was not easy for me. Lauren's dorm room was my safe haven. I would make the trek from New Pembroke to Keeney, sitting in her black foldout chair with her fluffy white blanket after class or whenever I felt lonely. True to her (and my) Taiwanese roots, Lauren always had a snack on hand or fresh fruit: a wonderful sight for a homesick freshman. Sometimes we would yap, talking about funny encounters with friends or learning more about each other's lives. Other times, we would sit in content silence, each doing our own thing. Sitting in silence was one of my worst nightmares, and yet, with Lauren it was different—I simply enjoyed her presence. Throughout the years, we continued to grow closer, bonding over our pre-med requisite classes, our love of food, our Taiwanese heritage. 

Serving on Brown Taiwan Society's e-board as co-presidents brought us even closer together. That year, we lived in a Greg suite together with two other amazing friends. Impromptu meetings were held in our rooms; one of us at the desk, the other in bed, and always with a plate of fresh fruit Lauren's mom had sent her. Even when I went abroad, we grew closer, sending each other video updates through Snapchat—an ironic and unexpected throwback to our middle and high school years. We got to overlap in Taiwan during our senior year winter break and traveled around together, making core memories I'll never forget. Now, at the end of our college years, we do not quite know where we'll be in proximity to each other. However, what I do know is our friendship is not one broken by time zones or distance.—written by Denika Kao ’25

Dora Herrera ’80 and Isabel M. Eccles '79 

I started at Brown during the second semester. I didn't expect it to be such a lonely experience. I just thought I'd save up some money before starting college. Although it was heartwarming to be met at the bus station by Latin American Students Organization (LASO) members and escorted to my dorm room, it was hard to get settled in to my new life, especially since I came from California (90°) to Rhode Island (18°), which to my dismay wasn't actually an island! One day, someone dribbled a soccer ball down the hall, and seeing my eyes following her moves, stopped in front of me. “You play?” she said. “No,” I replied.  “You want to learn?” she asked.  “Hmmm,” I muttered. “C'mon! It'll be fun!” she said. And, it was. So much so that I tried out for the team, played four years, and then went on to play ice hockey and rugby, and learned to fence. Isabel M. Eccles '79 and I are still in touch, still besties, and still teaching each other new things. She made Brown a place to love. —written by Dora Herrera ’80

First things first

Ramisa Fariha ScM’20 PhD’24 and Olugbenga Joseph '16

Olugbenga Joseph '16 and I met completely by chance during my first week at Brown—on the main green, no less. He tells me now that I looked “too happy” to be a graduate student. We started chatting about our names and origin stories, and from there, the conversation just...never really stopped. Throughout that first year, we kept bumping into each other across campus, from the Sci Li steps to the Blue Room. Years later, he’s still my favorite person at Brown. From being my date to Campus Dance, to cheering the loudest at my commencement when I had no family in attendance, to calling me first whenever something felt off—he’s been constant. And for that, I’m forever grateful to Brown, for giving me not just an education, but a lifelong friend. —written by Ramisa Fariha ScM’20 PhD’24

James Konsky ’16  and Peter Bailey '15

Peter Bailey '15 and I were both a part of the 2013 mid-year transfer class. Peter transferred from UCLA, which is a rival of USC. In our transfer orientation, the incoming class members introduced ourselves and said where we transferred from. One of our new classmates was an incoming transfer from USC, and when she introduced herself, saying that she transferred from USC, Peter playfully blurted out "BOOOOOOOO." And still to this day, what I love about Peter is that he is not afraid to be himself. That to me is the beauty of the Brown community: a collection of unique, quirky individuals who all come together around core values like acceptance, diversity, collaboration, and the quest for knowledge that they can use to make an impact. Peter and I have kept in touch through the years by regular phone calls and through a fantasy football league we run with friends. I'm so thankful that Brown introduced me to my best friend and best man at my wedding in Providence on Loving Day in 2023 (we had our rehearsal dinner at Andrea's on Thayer St). —written by James Konsky ’16 

Reet Agrawal ’21.5 and Elizabeth Austin '20

I came to Brown to study STEM and art and had been following the STEAM club for a year prior to arriving on campus. At the activities fair during my freshman orientation, I arrived early and waited until the opening to go to the STEAM booth. The first person on shift that morning was my now best friend Elizabeth Austin '20, who was so excited to meet this eager freshman (me).

Since then, Liz and I have shared many, many memories at Brown together, including long nights at the Engineering Research Center and building an escape room together for a RISD class. Since graduation we've also become coworkers and have even lived on a remote island together, each time grateful for that serendipitous morning that brought us our friendship! —written by Reet Agrawal ’21.5