Any Brown graduate is eligible. Self-nominations are encouraged. The election for these positions will be held the last week in May for terms that will begin July 1.

Learn about the board roles and responsibilities, and send us your nominations to info@browna4.org today!

Today, April 25, 2013, A4 learned of the passing of fellow Brown alumnus Sunil Tripathi ’12. Sunil is the brother of Sangeeta Tripathi ’04 and Ravi Tripathi ‘09.

Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to Sunil’s family and friends. It is our understanding that a memorial service has been scheduled for Saturday afternoon. The following request has been posted by Sunil’s family on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Help-Us-Find-Sunil-Tripathi/403275636436466

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Sunil Tripathi memorial fund. As soon as we are able to, we will select organizations reflecting Sunil’s spirit, particularly those focusing on mental health and environmental sustainability.

The Sunil Tripathi Memorial Fund, c/o Brown University
110 Elm Street, Box 1893, Providence RI 02912

Thank you for your love.

Come back to campus to celebrate Brown University’s Asian American History Month with students and fellow alumni! Planned in collaboration with alumni, students, faculty and staff, the weekend will feature speakers, workshop presentations, and several opportunities to get connected with fellow A4 alumni.

Details for the weekend and how you can get involved to follow soon!

Dear A4 Member,

As we enter our second decade of serving the Asian and Asian American Alumni of Brown, A4 is committed to the values upon which our organization was founded: unity, awareness, growth, leadership and communication. We have had many successes these past 10 years and there are so many individuals to thank that I am going to refrain from listing them all for fear of forgetting someone!

A4 continues to make significant strides. Last year, A4 alumni banded together to raise $250,000 to establish the first ever A4 endowed scholarship. Thank you to all A4 alumni who donated their time, energy, and money to make this a reality. What an achievement! Last year also saw the debut of our newsletter, “Brown Rice,” and the coming together of alumni for the first ever A4 West Coast Retreat in San Francisco. Both of these accomplishments are vehicles to build, strengthen, and maintain our connections with each other and with the Brown community.

This year, the A4 leadership will be hard at work to do more, having set out the following goals and objectives for 2012-13:

• Expand the Board of Governors from 9 to 12 to reflect our growing diversity
• Unite and give voice to our community by focusing and advocating on issues we have in common
• Increase the number of Lunar New Dinners throughout the U.S. and beyond
• Plan and host the first ever Diwali dinner with the goal of making these dinners a part of A4’s annual programming
• Increase the number of newsletters from 2 to 4
• Create the first ever A4 Outstanding Alumni Award
• Recognize graduating seniors with a Commencement gift from A4
• Expand our reach through the 2nd Annual A4 West Coast Retreat

Remember – fulfillment of these goals cannot be realized without your involvement. If you are interested in serving on the Board of Governors, want to help plan an event and/or want to learn more, please email us at info@browna4.org.

Eric C. de los Santos ‘89

Responding to the generosity and excitement generated by the $10,000 Jason Sperber ’98 & Michelle Quiogue ’96 MD’00 TWTP Endowment Challenge, Brown alumni stepped forward to establish the TWTP Endowed Fund! This fall incoming students will begin to benefit from this endowment as new funds are put to work to enhance the quality of the TWTP experience.

Alumni of Color Initiative (AOCI) Co-Chairs Gloria Jan ’87, Eugene Mahr ’77 P’07 P’11, and Cris Sales ’90, along with past Co-Chair Fred Wang ’72 P’12 and AOCI Gift Committee members and A4 board members, demonstrated tremendous leadership throughout this effort, harnessing the enthusiasm of the A4 community to accomplish these impressive achievements.

In addition to funding the priorities of importance to our community, we’re also pleased to share that as part of the AOCI, we’ve also successfully created the BULAC Endowed Scholarship, the IPC Endowed Scholarship, the U.S. Latino Studies Endowed Fund, and The Ruth J. Simmons Africana Studies Endowed Fund, creating a total of six new endowments for Brown

As a premier pre-orientation program, the Third World Transition Program (TWTP) welcomes over 220 students to Brown, facilitates critical dialogues about the intersections of various social identities, and promotes community-building across difference. In fact, participants consistently identify TWTP as one of the most pivotal programs they took part in during their time on College Hill.

On behalf of the Third World Center, I extend my heartfelt appreciation for making the TWTP Endowment a reality. Your collective efforts and generous support will ensure that future generations of scholars and activists start their time at Brown with a rich, engaging, and transformative experience. Moreover, this endowment will allow us to expand the program to serve students in various capacities for many years to come. The TWTP endowment is a testament that great accomplishments are made possible when alumni, students, staff, faculty, and community members come together to serve the greater good. Thank you!

All my best,
Mary Grace Almandrez
Director, Third World Center and Assistant Dean of the College

Move over basil. I found a new herb to love—Shiso. It happened so suddenly. My partner Chad and I were actually in the market for a berberis thunbergii (pink queen Japanese barberry) when we saw shiso sitting coquettishly on the plant shelf of City Peoples Market in Seattle. Right then and there we knew that she would forever be a part of our herbal garden.

If you have never heard of shiso, you likely have seen her frilly leaves garnishing a plate of sashimi. Shiso is typically green, but as you can tell by the photos, my special shiso is red. The scientific name for shiso is perilla frutescens nankinensis, but she may also be commonly referred to as beefsteak plant. Shiso is a member of the mint family and can be substituted for recipes requiring basil or mint. Shiso leaves have a strong, clean pungency similar to cilantro, cumin, and citrus. I grow shiso in my garden because like the transient nature of young love, it doesn’t keep long once it is harvested.

An interesting fact: Shiso is one of the famed “seven spices” of Japan. Her leaves, stems, flowers, seeds, and roots have all been used in Asian cuisine. You will find a wide array of recipes, if you Google “Shiso recipes.” But I would like to share with you the bliss from my recent delicious trysts with Shiso.

Shiso Furikake

Shiso Summer Spring Rolls

Shiso Pesto

A4 held its first west coast event to connect Asian and Asian American alumni in the San Francisco area. Last year’s west coast retreat brought together over 30 alumni from classes ranging from the 70s through 10s,

The Second Annual A4 West Coast Retreat took place under “California dreamy” skies at a Los Angeles bungalow home (equipped with pool and Jacuzzi) on August 10 and 11, 2012. The goal of the retreat was to bring Brown to the large majority of A4 alumni living on the West Coast. Last year’s retreat brought together a number of alumni living in San Francisco.

The event was co-sponsored by the Brown Club of So Cal, Asian/Asian American Alumni Alliance (A4), Alumni of Color Initiative (AOCI), Brown University Latino Alumni Council (BULAC), Inman Page Black Alumni Council (IPC), Transgender, Bisexual, Gay & Lesbian Alumni (TBGALA), and Multicultural Alumni Committee (MAC) of the Brown Alumni Association (BAA).

In attendance at this year’s retreat were A4 Board members from Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, D.C., and St. Louis, along with the West Coast contingency from L.A., San Francisco, and Seattle. The highlight of the two-day retreat was Sunday brunch with several L.A. alumni and a dialogue with Brown’s new Third World Center Director, Mary Grace Almandrez. Mary Grace shared her vision for the TWC and engaged the alumni in a thoughtful and provoking discussion about the role of alumni in making this vision into a reality. Also in attendance from the university were Valerie Cordeiro, Assistant to Regional and Multicultural Programs at Brown, and Brickson Diamond ‘93, distinguished Brown alumni leader.

Following the brunch, A4 conducted its teleconference poolside. Of note at the meeting was the introduction of a constitutional amendment to increase the number of Governors on the A4 Board from nine to twelve. Programming was also discussed, including the launch of the first Diwali Dinners planned by A4. Some of the items on the group’s year-long agenda include the status of ethnic studies at Brown, the creation of the first ever A4 Outstanding Alumni Award, and an alumni gift to be given to all graduating A4 seniors. Much of the planning and coordination for the event is attributed to A4 President Elect Anthony Cheng ’95. In addition to the Hawaiian brunch-feast he planned, which included kalua pork, spam musubi, macaroni salad, fried rice, teriyaki chicken, sweet rolls, etc., Anthony arranged a night to remember for the alumni in attendance. On Saturday evening, the group was treated to a culinary and entertainment experience at the infamous Last Supper Club. What a night! What a weekend!