Student Advisory Council

Spring 2023 Council Chair: 

Daniel (Dani) Poloner ’24, International and Public Affairs

2022-2023 Watson Student Advisory Members

• Michelle Alas Molina ’25 - Vice Chair (IAPA Policy & Governance & Latin American/Caribbean Studies)
• Annette Lee ’23 - Treasurer (IAPA Policy & Governance)
• Noah Rosenfeld ’24 - Social Chair (IAPA Policy & Governance)
• Logan Danker ’24 - Publicity Chair (IAPA Development & History)
• Casandra Gutierrez ’24 - DIAP Liaison
• Katie Goldenberg '23 (International and Public Affairs)
• Julian Cronin ’25
• Jay Philbrick ’24 (Applied Mathematics-Economics & IAPA)
• Irene Sung ’23
• Olwyn Kells ’23
• Nicholas Sanzi ’24.5
• Adam Meller ’25
• Ellia Sweeney ’25
• Rachel Hecht ’25 (IAPA)
• Dorothea Omerovic ’25 (IAPA Development)

The WSAC is composed of Brown undergraduate students from all class years representing the various concentrations, organizations, and extracurricular interests that relate to the mission and purpose of  the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs. The mission of the WSAC is to engage Brown students fully in the life of the Watson Institute to enhance the students' curricular and co-curricular experiences and to strengthen the Institute itself.

Examples of this include, but are not limited to:

• Making recommendations on curricular reform of Watson-related concentrations.
• Providing feedback and suggestions on Watson student grant opportunities.
• Planning, sponsoring, and scheduling virtual events.
• Recommending events, speakers, and panels of value to the undergraduate community.
• Providing reflections on Brown’s and Watson’s diversity-and-inclusion values and policy implementation.
• Spearheading initiatives to improve undergraduate peer and faculty advising systems.
• Offering input on the design, content, and publishing of Watson’s websites, social media platforms, and e-Newsletters.

Constituted under the guidance of the Watson Institute’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee, the Student Advisory Council is convened by the Associate Director of the Watson Institute, with meetings attended regularly by Watson’s Director of Communications and Outreach, Communications and Events Coordinator, Manager of Academic Programs, and Program Manager, Master of Public Affairs Program. Members of the Watson Diversity and Inclusion Committee are always welcome to attend.

Students interested in joining the Council may apply at the beginning of the fall semester via a written application published and publicized digitally by both Student Advisory Council members and Watson administrators. Students will be asked to answer questions regarding their experiences at Watson and their vision for improving the undergraduate experience as it pertains to the Institute.

The WSAC is a student-led organization. Officers are responsible for directing meetings, overseeing agendas, and organizing the Council to work most efficiently and effectively. All members have the opportunity to become officers, regardless of their class-year or tenure in the group.

The Council meets weekly on Thursdays and reports out to Watson faculty and staff on a monthly basis.

In early September of each year, the Watson Institute posts announcements in Today@Brown to seek student membership. The Institute encourages applications from all undergraduate students who have some tie to life at Watson, whether as concentrators, employees, participants in study groups, or those who regularly take part in the Institute’s public events. A sub-committee of the Watson Diversity and Inclusion Committee then selects the participants.

Student members serve voluntarily for an entire academic year, with membership annually renewable throughout students’ undergraduate years.

The WSAC is convened by a group of Watson administrators seeking the guidance of students with regard to the Institute’s strategic planning. While these staff members are essential components of the WSAC’s functioning, meetings are conducted both with and without staff present in order to ensure that everyone has a chance to comfortably voice their opinions.

Meet the Staff Advisors 

• Kathryn Dunkelman, Chief of Staff and Director of Strategic Operations and Engagement
• Anita Nester, Manager of Academic Programs
• Allessandra Soares, Academic Program Coordinator
• April Huth, Web and Social Media Specialist

The Student Advisory Council Bylaws, as amended ratified in May 2022 can be found here.