Student Awards
Established in 2015 by a group of Brown alumnae and parents in honor and celebration of Susan Friedman’s tireless efforts in the area of women’s leadership, this award recognizes any senior undergraduate student who best exemplifies women’s leadership.
This $1,000 prize aims to recognize an undergraduate college senior who:
- has worked to empower and promote women as leaders;
- has demonstrated a dedication to relationship-building and/or mentorship as part of their leadership efforts; and
- has had a positive and tangible impact on groups, organizations and/or individuals through their leadership efforts on and/or off campus.
History of the Award
Susan 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 Friedman’s creative vision, entrepreneurial spirit and generous philanthropic support, the council has developed into a vibrant and diverse community of women leaders, volunteers, mentors and philanthropists at Brown. Mentoring has been central to both Friedman’s vision and the Women’s Leadership Council’s mission as a way to empower the next generation of leaders. 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 19, 2024 at 5:00 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 2024. For more information or questions, contact Felicia Salinas-Moniz at felicia_salinas@brown.edu.
Current and Past Award Recipients
- Maya Laur (2024)
- Isha Ponugoti (2024)
- Muneet Gill (2023)
- Amanda Levy (2023)
- Lauren Brown (2022)
- Cartie Werthman (2021)
- Kamren Gilbard (2020)
- Ashley Bang (2019)
- Gianna Jasinski (2018)
- Fatima Husain (2017)
- Katherine Caroline Sudol (2016)