PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — On Friday, Oct. 23, Brown University launched the $3-billion BrownTogether campaign, the largest comprehensive fundraising campaign in the University’s history. Twelve campaign co-chairs, drawn from current and former members of the Corporation of Brown University and the alumni body, will provide leadership as volunteers, contributing their time and talents to carry the message of the campaign to alumni and friends of the University and serving as key ambassadors throughout the campaign.
“Our campaign co-chairs for BrownTogether already have exhibited exceptional leadership and commitment to Brown,” said Brown President Christina Paxson. “We are grateful for the role they’ll play energizing our global community around the priorities of the campaign.”
The campaign co chairs:
Brickson E. Diamond
Board of Trustees, serving 2015–2021
Bachelor of Arts from Brown, 1993
Brickson E. Diamond is chief operating officer of the Executive Leadership Council, the preeminent member organization of current and former black senior executives and board members at Fortune 1,000 companies. Prior to his appointment at the Executive Leadership Council, Diamond spent 15 years as an executive within the institutional and private wealth divisions of The Capital Group Companies.
Diamond earned an A.B. from Brown in organizational behavior and management and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. He is a board member of Middlesex School (Concord, Mass.) and a co‐founder and board chair of The Blackhouse Foundation, which works to expand opportunities for African American content creators in the entertainment industry. He is a former board member of the Liberty Hill Foundation and former trustee and board chair of the National Hospice Foundation.
Charles H. Giancarlo
Board of Trustees, served 2008–2014
Bachelor of Science from Brown, 1979
Charles H. Giancarlo is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and Fortune 50 senior executive with more than 30 years of experience in the semiconductor, communications and networking industries. Most recently, he was a senior adviser and managing director at private equity firm Silver Lake, specializing in technology investments. Before joining Silver Lake in 2007, he spent 15 years with Cisco Systems as a senior executive, serving as executive vice president and chief development officer of Cisco and president of Cisco-Linksys, responsible for all Cisco product development. He is a director of Accenture, Arista Networks, Imperva, Avaya, ServiceNow and several private technology companies.
Giancarlo, a parent of two Brown graduates, earned an Sc.B. in electrical engineering, magna cum laude, from Brown, an M.S. in electrical engineering from the University of California–Berkeley, and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. He is a member of the Engineering Advisory Board at UC Berkeley.
Theresia Gouw
Board of Fellows, serving 2012–2023
Board of Trustees, served 2007-2012
Bachelor of Science from Brown, 1990
Theresia Gouw is founder and managing partner of Aspect Ventures, a venture capital firm investing in the mobile marketplace with a focus on security, health, and “millennial-focused” services. Prior to establishing Aspect in 2014, she was a partner of Accel Partners, a global venture capital firm focused primarily on internet technology companies.
Gouw earned an Sc.B. in engineering, magna cum laude, from Brown and an M.B.A. from Stanford Graduate School of Business. She serves as a director of DonorsChoose.org and as a member of The Stanford Graduate School of Business Advisory Council and DAPER Investment Fund.
Martin J. Granoff
Board of Trustees, served 1999–2005 and 2007–2013
Martin J. Granoff is a trustee emeritus of Brown, and is founding chair of the University’s Creative Arts Advisory Board. A veteran of the textile industry, he received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) from Brown in 2006 in recognition of his leadership and philanthropy to the University.
Granoff, parent of a Brown graduate, earned a B.A. in journalism from New York University. Granoff has been a trustee of Tufts University, and a board member of the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. He is also active in several New York City arts organizations, including Roundabout Theatre Company, City Center, and the Public Theatre.
Samuel M. Mencoff
Board of Fellows, serving 2009–2020
Board of Trustees, served 2003-2009
Bachelor of Arts from Brown, 1978
Samuel M. Mencoff is a founding partner and co-CEO of Madison Dearborn Partners, one of the nation’s leading private equity investment firms, with over $20 billion of capital under management.
Mencoff, parent of two Brown graduates, earned an A.B. in anthropology from Brown and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School in 1981. He is a director of Packaging Corporation of America, Smurfit Kappa Group plc, the Art Institute of Chicago, World Business Chicago, and NorthShore University HealthSystem.
Jonathan M. Nelson
Board of Fellows, serving 2011–2022
Board of Trustees, served 2007-2011, 2000-2006
Bachelor of Arts from Brown, 1977
Jonathan M. Nelson is founder and chief executive officer of Providence Equity Partners LLC, a global private equity firm focused on equity investments in media, communications, education, and information companies. He is currently a director of The Chernin Group, MLS Media, Television Broadcasts Limited and Univision Communications.
Nelson, parent of two Brown graduates, earned an A.B. in economics from Brown and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. He is a member of the board of Dean’s Advisors at Harvard Business School, a trustee of Rockefeller University, a trustee of the Institute for Advanced Study, and a member of the board of the Newport Festivals Foundation.
Alison S. Ressler
Treasurer of the Corporation 2008-2017
Board of Trustees, serving 2004–2017
Bachelor of Arts from Brown, 1980
Alison S. Ressler is a partner at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, a global law firm, where she is a member of the firm’s management committee, serves as co-head of the Global Private Equity Group, and is responsible for the firm’s practice in California. She is widely recognized as a leading authority on mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and capital markets.
Ressler, parent of four Brown graduates, earned an A.B. in classics from Brown (Phi Beta Kappa) and a J.D. from Columbia Law School. She is co-chair of the Dean’s Council of Columbia Law School and a trustee of the Harvard Westlake School.
Carmen M. Rodriguez
Board of Trustees, served 2005–2011
Bachelor of Arts from Brown, 1983
Carmen Rodriguez serves on the executive committee of the emeriti/ae trustees of Brown University. Active in Brown affairs for more than 30 years, she is the former chair and a current member of the President’s Advisory Council on Diversity and a member of the President’s Advisory Council on Athletics. She is a member of the President’s Leadership Council, the Parents Leadership Council, the Parents of Athletes Leadership Council, and the Pembroke Council.
Rodriguez, parent of a Brown graduate and a current Brown student, earned an A.B. from Brown and a J.D. from Columbia Law School. She practiced in New York City in the areas of corporate and real estate law. She is a current member of the Board of Trustees of Northfield Mount Hermon School and the Board of Literacy Inc., a not‐for‐profit organization supporting early literacy efforts in New York City’s low-income communities.
Ralph F. Rosenberg
Board of Trustees, serving 2014–2020, served 2007-2013
Bachelor of Arts from Brown, 1986
Ralph F. Rosenberg is a member of the firm and global head of real estate for Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts (KKR), a worldwide investment firm. Prior to joining KKR in 2011, he was a partner at Eton Park Capital Management, where he had primary responsibility for its commercial real estate debt and equity businesses and served on the firm’s operating and commitments committees.
Rosenberg, parent of a current Brown student, earned an A.B. in history and organizational behavior and management, magna cum laude, from Brown and an M.B.A. from Stanford Graduate School of Business. He is vice chair of the Board of Trustees at The Masters School, a former member of the Stanford Graduate School of Business Trust, and an honorary trustee of the Francis W. Parker School.
Pablo Salame
Board of Trustees, serving 2015–2021
Bachelor of Science from Brown, 1988
Pablo J. Salame is a partner at Goldman Sachs & Co., where he serves as global co-head of the Securities Division. He is a member of the management committee, chairman of the partnership committee, and co-chair of the firm-wide investment policy committee. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs in 1996, Salame worked for Citibank in their New York and Ecuador offices.
Salame earned an Sc.B. in applied mathematics and economics, magna cum laude, from Brown. He is a director of New York City Center and a member of the advisory board of the Billy Jean King Leadership Initiative.
Joan Wernig Sorensen
Board of Trustees, serving 2013–2019, served 2006-2012
Bachelor of Arts from Brown, 1972
Joan Wernig Sorensen has devoted her career to development, alumni relations, and higher education administration and has been a fundraising consultant to numerous nonprofit organizations. She has served as director of development and public relations at Interfaith Health Care Ministries at Rhode Island Hospital, and has worked in alumni relations at Moses Brown School, Bryant University, and Brown University.
Sorensen, parent of two Brown graduates, earned an A.B. in psychology from Brown. She serves on the board of Sophia Academy, an all-girls inner-city middle school in Providence. She is a trustee of the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Deer Isle, Maine, and a founding board member of Opera House Arts in Stonington, Maine. She is a former board member at Lincoln School and the Providence Athenaeum. She also served on the Moses Brown School Capital Campaign Committee. She was influential in helping bring Teach for America to Rhode Island in 2010.
E. Paul Sorensen
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science from Brown, 1971
Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy from Brown, 1975 and 1977
E. Paul Sorensen retired as co-founder and director of ABAQUS Inc., formerly Hibbitt, Karlsson & Sorensen Inc. (HKS), a developer of production-oriented finite element analysis software for civil and mechanical engineering structural applications. Prior to establishing HKS in 1978, he was an associate senior research engineer with General Motors.
Sorensen, parent of two Brown graduates, earned an A.B./Sc.B. in economics and Sc.M. and Ph.D. degrees in engineering from Brown. He is chairman of the board of Equitable Origin LLC, a stakeholder-based voluntary certification system designed to promote higher social and environmental standards, greater transparency, and more accountability in energy development.