Student Awards
The Susan Pilch Friedman ’77, P’08 Excellence Award in Women’s Leadership recognizes an undergraduate senior each year who has demonstrated exemplary leadership during their time at Brown – this could be in academics, athletics, extra-curricular activities, and/or off-campus efforts, or a combination of these.
Special consideration will be given to those nominees who have displayed breadth and depth across their time at Brown in their dedication to furthering women’s leadership, the empowerment of women, mentoring, and relationship building.
This award carries a monetary prize of $1,000.
History of the Award
Susan Pilch Friedman conceived of the Brown Women’s Leadership Council and was appointed by then-president Ruth J. Simmons as the first chair of the council in 2004. Through Pilch Friedman’s creative vision, entrepreneurial spirit and generous philanthropic support, the council developed into a vibrant and diverse community of women leaders, volunteers, mentors and philanthropists at Brown. Pilch Friedman has personally mentored Brown students and worked to institutionalize one-on-one mentoring for Brown students with Brown alumnae through the Women’s Launch Pad.
Nominations
Nominations can be submitted through this form and are due Friday, April 4, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Award nominations may be submitted by any member of the Brown community in recognition of a college senior graduating in the forthcoming May or December 2025. For more information or questions, contact Felicia Salinas-Moniz at felicia_salinas@brown.edu.
Award Recipients
2024
- Maya Laur
- Isha Ponugoti
2023
- Muneet Gill
- Amanda Levy
2022
- Lauren Brown
2021
- Cartie Werthman
2020
- Kamren Gilbard
2019
- Ashley Bang
2018
- Gianna Jasinski
2017
- Fatima Husain
2016
- Katherine Caroline Sudol