Congratulations to our graduating students and Swearer award winners!
The Swearer Center team congratulates the Class of 2025. It has been a privilege to learn alongside you, witness your growth and support your efforts to lead with care, passion and commitment. Your contributions at Brown–and in communities near and far–have left a lasting impact.
We look forward to seeing all you continue to do!
On Friday, April 25, students, community partners, faculty, staff, alums and families gathered on Pembroke Field for the Swearer Center’s Annual Community Celebration. The event recognized the achievements of students, faculty and community partners whose work over the past year exemplifies what it means to be in relationship with each other, with our communities and with the places we share.
Mary Jo Callan, Vice President for Community Engagement and Stark Family Executive Director of the Swearer Center, opened the ceremony with a welcome that honored this collective spirit.
“This year, more than ever, I want to center a word we don’t often associate with urgency: relationship. At its core, relationship is about being in it together. It means showing up—not just once, not just with passion, but with intention and commitment, humility and deep respect for what has come before us.”
Reflecting on the challenges and responsibilities of the moment, she added, “While systems and structures shape the world we live in, individuals, working together, shape what’s possible.”
Following her remarks, Swearer Center staff and community members presented this year’s awards.
Seven Swearer Center students from the Class of 2025 have been honored for their exceptional contributions to the Center’s mission to build on community strengths and address community challenges through collective action:
John Bellaire
As a Civic Engagement Fellow with Brown Votes, John Bellaire has helped shape a campus culture that sees civic engagement not just as a seasonal obligation but also as a joyful and shared responsibility. Over two years, he was key in expanding Brown Votes’ volunteer base and introducing innovative outreach strategies.
Austin Wilson, Manager of Community-Engaged Learning, presented the award, sharing, “John is joyful and gets other people excited about being engaged. When he and Josie Alston started their roles, we had about 15 active student group members, and by the end of their time, we had over 70 students put in over 2,000 volunteer hours. That is a testament to the community they both worked to create, and John’s ability to foster joy in the act of service.”
Elizabeth (Ellie) Morvatz
Through research, reflection and quiet leadership, Ellie Morvatz has helped advance institutional change at the Swearer Center and beyond. Her work has shaped the development of Brown’s Community Engagement Agenda and helped reimagine the Laidlaw Scholars Program to strengthen its alignment with the Center’s values.
Sharing remarks on behalf of Grace Argo, Assistant Director of Community-Engaged Research, Wilson read, “Ellie has challenged us—always respectfully—to do better. Her work has strengthened our internal systems, expanded our reach and contributed to building strong and enduring relationships with our community partners. Ellie is the kind of leader who doesn’t seek the spotlight, but whose impact is undeniable. Her thoughtfulness, care and quiet leadership have helped strengthen internal systems, expand our reach and build lasting community relationships.”
Abelardo Hernández Community Engagement Award
Michelle Alas Molina
A double concentrator in International and Public Affairs and Latin American & Caribbean Studies, Michelle Alas Molina consistently advocates for immigrant communities and educational justice. A Bonner Fellow and Royce Fellow, Michelle partnered with the Student Clinic for Immigrant Justice and Progreso Latino, conducting participatory research on democratic practices in Brazil.
Jessica Saenz Gomez, Manager of Community-Engaged Learning, reflected on Michelle’s commitment, saying, “Michelle is a passionate and purpose-driven leader whose commitment to educational and immigrant justice shines through in every facet of her work. Michelle doesn’t just meet her goals—she runs toward them. Literally! The day after submitting her senior thesis, she ran a half-marathon. Michelle is a pillar of the Swearer Center and the Brown University community. She is a role model for students who look up to her and a force of nature who will undoubtedly make a lasting impact wherever she goes.”
Engaged Scholarship Award (Undergraduate)
Titi Zhang
A Computer Science concentrator and recipient of the Engaged Scholarship Certificate, Titi Zhang has approached technology not as a neutral tool but as a profoundly social, political and cultural system. Through community-based projects addressing domestic violence, artificial intelligence and equity, Titi has demonstrated what it means to apply research in service of the public good.
Julie Plaut, Director of Engaged Scholarship, presented the award, sharing remarks from one of Titi’s nominations, Computer Science professor Diana Freed. “Titi helped advance community-centered approaches to AI evaluation, creating space for collaborative learning and reflection. Her work reflects a strong commitment to equity and the practical application of research in service of the public good.”
Derek Canfield Barker Community-Engaged Athletic Award
Mya Collins
Mya Collins, a varsity track & field athlete and the President of the Black Student Union, has exemplified what it means to lead with purpose and integrity. Balancing rigorous athletic commitments with a deep investment in civic and cultural engagement, she has fostered community both on and off campus. As BSU President, she organized over 50 events centering on Black identity, cultural celebration and community engagement and she remained deeply involved in the Brown Center for Students of Color.
Victoria Mealer-Flowers, Senior Manager of Community Engagement and DEI Programs in Brown Athletics, shared, “From collaborating with local businesses to bridging the gap with youth in Providence, she embodies what it means to find yourself in the service of others. She has worked with young people with college aspirations to see themselves in similar places, broaden their horizons and most importantly, motivate and inspire them. She is the epitome of a woman who lifts as she rises.”
Engaged Scholarship Award (Graduate)
Dr. Melaine Ferdinand-King
On the same day she was recognized at the Swearer Center’s Annual Community Celebration, Dr. Melaine Ferdinand-King officially earned her Ph.D. in Africana Studies. Dr. Ferdinand-King brings critical theory and community organizing into direct conversation through her scholarship and leadership. Her dissertation explores Black consciousness, surrealism and social change through archival work and collaborative projects with DARE (Direct Action for Rights and Equality) and the Behind the Walls Committee. Her work has included public exhibitions of incarcerated artists’ work and community dialogues grounded in radical Black feminism.
Dr. Ferdinand-King has also served as President of the Nabrit Black Graduate Student Association and Vice President of Advocacy for the Graduate Student Council. Georgina Manok, Senior Director for Strategy and Assessment, shared, “She redefines what Brown means to local community members. Her dissertation and community work are visionary and deeply rooted in justice.”
Ellis Silva
Ellis Silva, a PhD candidate in Public Health, centers lived experience and community partnership in all aspects of their research. Their dissertation uses a photovoice participatory action research approach, co-created with a Youth Advisory Board, to examine how immigration policy impacts food environments for Latino adolescents in Texas. The project challenges traditional academic models by valuing lived expertise and aims to make tangible social change.
At the Swearer Center, Ellis served as a Graduate Proctor in Community-Engaged Scholarship, where they contributed significantly to Brown’s successful Carnegie Community Engagement Classification application, led trainings and co-facilitated a learning intensive. Reflecting on their work and experience taking PHP 1810 Community Engaged Research in Public Health, Ellis shared, “Connections don’t happen overnight. Taking the time to build trust and letting [community members] guide the research gets them involved… Public health is by and for the community, in an equal partnership with researchers.”
From a very strong pool of nominees, a committee of community partners, students, staff and faculty selected Dr. Lauren Yapp and Dr. Tommy Chou as the 2025 recipients of the Howard R. Swearer Engaged Faculty Awards. To learn more about their work, read our full feature here.
Howard R. Swearer Engaged Faculty Award Winners
Dr. Lauren Yapp
Dr. Lauren Yapp, Lecturer and Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Urban Studies Program, has made community engagement a central tenet of her pedagogy. Through courses that bridge the classroom with lived histories and place-based inquiry, she has facilitated high-impact learning experiences for students while strengthening local and international partnerships.
Her students have co-produced public storytelling projects that amplify underrepresented narratives, including a video on traditional kampung neighborhoods in Jakarta and community-based research on College Hill’s layered histories. Yapp’s collaborations with Providence Preservation Society and other partners have allowed students to contribute meaningfully to urban planning, preservation and justice-oriented research.
We were thrilled to be joined by Marisa Angell Brown, Executive Director of the Providence Preservation Society, to celebrate this recognition alongside Yapp. With more than a dozen students writing in support of Lauren’s nominations, Plaut, presenting the award, shared, “Students call her an inspiration for her generosity and care. She helps them engage in sustained, ethical, and transformative partnerships.”
Dr. Tommy Chou
Dr. Tommy Chou, Assistant Professor (Research) in the Departments of Psychiatry and Human Behavior and Family Medicine, has exemplified what it means to engage with community through scholarship, care and co-creation. His work spans clinical, educational and research settings, with a focus on advancing physical and mental health outcomes for low-income and underserved Rhode Islanders.
Chou’s partnerships with the Family Care Center in Pawtucket and social workers in the Pawtucket School District are rooted in trust and shared purpose. Through these collaborations, he has contributed to developing ethical, community-informed care practices. His co-authored publications with community collaborators elevate practitioner knowledge while centering lived experience.
In the words of Shara Plynton, a social worker and nominator who joined the celebration, “Tommy brings a deep presence and empathic listening, a sense of humor, humility and a willingness to roll up his sleeves to help with any aspect of the work.”
Each year, the Swearer Center’s Community Advisory Board (CAB) honors public and nonprofit organizations whose work demonstrates exemplary leadership, innovation and impact in Rhode Island communities. Selected by a panel of community members, these awardees reflect the breadth and depth of community-based action.
AMOR (Alliance to Mobilize Our Resistance)
AMOR (Alliance to Mobilize Our Resistance) is a grassroots collective committed to supporting communities most affected by systemic oppression through organizing, education and direct service. Rooted in mutual aid and collective care, AMOR offers legal support, mental health services, community defense and rapid-response coordination in moments of crisis.
Community Advisory Board member Juan Wilson Jr. described AMOR’s work, “AMOR emphasizes community-driven approaches, grassroots organizing, and collective action to support marginalized communities in Rhode Island. This community-centered framework has allowed AMOR to address urgent crises while building long-term empowerment capacity.”
Inviting Catarina Lorenzo, Ingrid Megia and Nadia Gonzalez to the stage to accept the award on behalf of AMOR, Wilson Jr. continued, “AMOR’s recent cookbook project is a wonderful example of the kind of collaborative, community-driven projects that the organization supports. Recipes for the cookbook were sourced from community members and collected by community volunteers, and illustrators volunteered their time and skills to produce images for the cookbook. This collaboration of community and volunteers meant that all proceeds could go directly to supporting AMOR’s community work.”
Keep Forward Movement
Keep Forward Movement (KFM) has served the Providence community for over seven years, offering programs that center positivity, encouragement and resilience. Focusing on historically marginalized neighborhoods, KFM creates environments that affirm the dignity and potential of youth.
One of its signature efforts, the Handshake Initiative, brings community leaders into local schools to connect with and encourage K-12 students as they begin their school day.
Welcoming Pilar McCloud and Lauren Nance to the stage to accept the award on behalf of KFM, Community Advisory Board member Lloyd Ocean said, “These high-energy, celebratory school visits remind students that there is an entire community supporting them.”
Newport Pride
Newport Pride is a leading voice for LGBTQ+ inclusion, advocacy and celebration across Rhode Island. Through events, partnerships and resource development, the organization works to ensure that LGBTQ+ individuals in Newport and beyond feel welcomed, connected and empowered.
With programs that extend beyond celebration, Newport Pride aims to challenge exclusionary systems and create more equitable spaces. They partner with groups such as Youth Pride Inc. and the Women’s Resource Center to amplify the reach and impact of their work, bringing people together across lines of difference to foster dialogue, solidarity and joy.
Community Advisory Board member Michelle Duso welcomed Daniel Cano Restrepo to accept the award on behalf of Newport Pride. Duso said, “Newport Pride creates inclusive spaces for connection, learning and advocacy. Their work centers innovation, authentic connection, joy and celebration. The impact is felt not just in Newport but across the state.”
North End Outreach / Chad Brown Alumni Association
Founded in 2013 as the Chad Brown Alumni Association (CBAA), which later became recognized as North End Outreach (NEO), the organization is a collective of former residents from the Chad Brown Housing Projects and surrounding neighborhoods. Emerging from a powerful desire to give back to their community, what began as a series of barbershop conversations has evolved into a robust community focused on mentorship, dialogue and service.
The organization supports children, youth and seniors through programs such as the Right Way and ALPHA mentorship initiatives, an annual community basketball league and seasonal drives for food, toys and school supplies. Their work embodies what it means to meet people where they are—with consistency, compassion, and action.
Community Advisory Board member and award presenter Gloria Johnson invited Stevie Santos, Chester DeWitt, and Lisa Scorpio to the stage to accept the award. As Johnson reflected on the positive impact that CBAA/NEO has had on the Chad Brown community and in the North End, she emphasized that the organization is looking forward to expanding its reach to vulnerable populations in other parts of the city and state.
Special thanks to the Swearer Center staff and student workers, the Community Advisory Board, Allessandra (Sandy) Soares, Manager of Community-Engaged Learning, Ashley Greene, Director of Community Partnership and Julie Plaut, Director of Engaged Scholarship, for award coordination, Will Battersby and Jen Heim from Event Support, photographer Ashley McCabe, and the team from NESP. A special thank you for the fantastic food provided by local caterer, Amos House.
To see more of the Commencement events and celebrations on social media, follow the hashtags #Brown2025, #BrownU, and #SwearerCommunity.
Congratulations graduates!