Robert A. Brown, President Emeritus stands alongside Commonwealth Ave. The weather is overcast. He appears to be focused.

Robert A. Brown

President Emeritus, Professor of Engineering, and Professor of Computing & Data Sciences

Robert A. Brown is president emeritus of Boston University, a professor of engineering, and a professor in the Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences. As a researcher in the field of engineering, his main area of interest is mathematical modeling of transport phenomena in materials, and he has published more than 250 papers on various topics. Professor Brown served as president of Boston University from 2005 to 2023.

Writings

Brown, R.A. (2018). “Envisioning Our Future: Boston University in 2030.” Letter to the Boston University community. bu.edu/brown/envisioning-our-future-boston-university-in-2030/

Brown, R.A. and Lutchen, K. (2021). “Organizing Academic Engineering for Leading in an Entangled World.” The Bridge.

Brown, R.A. (2021). “A Simple Model for Control of COVID-19 Infections on an Urban Campus.” Proc. National Academy of Sciences, 118, No. 36.

Brown, R.A. (2023). “My Reflections after 18 Years as BU President.” Letter to the Boston University community. bu.edu/articles/2023/pov-my-reflections-after-18-years-as-bu-president/

Honors and Awards

  • Provost, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 1998–2005
  • Elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, 1994
  • Elected to the National Academy of Engineering, 1991
  • Elected to the National Academy of Sciences, 2001
  • Executive Editor, Chemical Engineering Science, 1991–2004.
  • Member and Chair, Academic Research Council, Ministry of Education, Republic of Singapore, 2006–present
  • Member, Research, Innovation and Enterprise Council, Office of the Prime Minister, Republic of Singapore, 2012–present
  • Named one of the top 100 Chemical Engineers of the Modern Era by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, 2008
  • Simon Ramo Founders Award, National Academy of Engineering, 2014
  • Elected to the National Academy of Inventors, 2014
  • Warren K. Lewis Professor of Chemical Engineering at MIT, 1992–2005

Areas of Interest

  • Chemical engineering
  • Mathematical modeling of transport phenomena in materials
  • Higher education leadership and strategy for research universities

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