Open Curriculum

Suresh Venkatasubramanian describes himself as a "card-carrying computer scientist." He loves technology, the joy of building, and the elegance of a well-crafted algorithm. But for the past decade, his focus has not been on how to make Artificial Intelligence (AI) faster but on how to make it just.

Dean of Faculty Leah VanWey explains how Brown’s culture of collaboration, the Open Curriculum, and a world-class faculty combine to give students the critical thinking skills and confidence to “balance the speed of technological innovation” while navigating complex global challenges.

Brown’s vibrant intellectual environment shaped how Tran sees the world. Now, it’s the driving force behind his decision to get involved as a volunteer.

Danielle Shandiin Emerson ’22.5 amplifies the literary traditions of Indigenous peoples with stories centered on family, community, and healing.

After initially pursuing a career in medicine, choreographer Ho-Shia Thao ’09 is putting the complexities of the human experience front and center on the stage.

Musicians Dolapo “DAP The Contract” Akinkugbe ’16 and Tomi “Pan Tèrra” Madarikan ’21 team up for a new song and return to where it all began—College Hill.

Physician and educator Rex Chiu ’89 MD’94 reflects on the ways a Brown education fosters a spirit of exploration and collaboration that stays with alumni long after graduation.

American Studies concentrator turned entrepreneur Michelle Frea ’14 shares her thoughts on the beauty of a Brown education and its inherent lessons in leadership, discipline, and responsibility.

Today, the Open Curriculum is the foundation of a Brown education. But when it was initially adopted in 1969, it was a radical approach to teaching and learning. It was innovative. It was student-centered. It was redefining higher education.

The surgeon and scientist reveals how Brown and the power of collaboration have influenced her groundbreaking work in clinical cancer research.