Earlier this month, President Barack Obama honored the Leadership Alliance, which is headquartered at Brown, for its excellence in science, mathematics and engineering mentoring.
The Leadership Alliance is a group of 33 colleges and universities that work to develop students from underrepresented groups as leaders and role models, according to its Web site. The Leadership Alliance was founded at Brown in 1992.
Valerie Wilson, associate provost and director of institutional diversity, accepted the award at Obama's "Educate to Innovate" four-day event, which recognized educators from across the nation.
The honor comes with an award of $10,000. The Leadership Alliance plans to use the money to "enhance their relationship" with the faculty members who are the "heart and soul" of its Summer Research Early Identification Program, Wilson said. The program, a main component of the Leadership Alliance's activities, pairs undergraduates with faculty mentors for eight to 10 weeks.
Wilson said the award, which is given by the National Science Foundation after a nationwide selection process, "gives us bragging rights that we are one of the best in the country."
