The evolution of Brown's School of Professional Studies: A story of innovation and growth

In the early 1980s, a seed was planted at Brown University that would eventually grow into the School of Professional Studies (SPS). It all began with a vision from Reginald D. Archambault, professor of education emeritus, and Karen Sibley, who together launched the Brown Summer Academy. This credit-bearing program for high school students was designed to give young learners a taste of college academics and extracurricular experiences.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, this initiative, which later became known as Summer@Brown, flourished. It expanded Brown's reach beyond its traditional focus on undergraduate education.

As the new millennium approached, Brown began to explore ways to serve an even broader community of learners. In the 1990s, the University started offering a small number of continuing education courses sponsored by the Brown Learning Community (a separate entity). These evening classes, led by Brown faculty, catered to adult learners mostly in the Providence area.

The turn of the century brought significant changes. In the early 2000s, Provost Zimmer made a strategic decision to merge the small continuing education program with the thriving pre-college programs. This new entity, the Division of Summer and Continuing Education, was placed under the leadership of Karen Sibley. This merger created a space for great innovation and entrepreneurship. Faculty were able to innovate, expand their pedagogy and content delivery methods to create short intensive courses. It also opened the door to launch and iterate on educational opportunities for mid-career professionals.

“Undergraduate education has always been so important to Brown, but the excellence of what Brown could contribute academically to learners of all ages is something that I had hoped – and others with me had hoped – to project forward,” Sibley said. “Early days, we were a place where we could pilot innovation and education, and we could then review what we had accomplished, enhance what we were doing and take it forward to do more.”

Innovation continued to drive Brown's approach to education. In 2011, the division partnered with IE Business School in Madrid, to launch its first executive master's degree, the Executive MBA. Valuable lessons were learned about serving an eager, curious professional audience from around the world. This partnership also helped Brown develop its capabilities in online education.

In 2013, the second executive master’s degree in healthcare leadership was launched, in partnership with the School of Public Health. These two programs, which continue today, were designed to equip professionals with the skills needed to advance in their careers and expand their leadership capabilities.

With the full support of President Christina H. Paxson, a pivotal moment came in 2014 when, by a vote of the faculty, the School of Professional Studies was officially established. Under the leadership of Dean Karen Sibley, the school continued to innovate and expand its offerings. In 2016, a new executive master’s in cybersecurity was announced, and in 2017, the executive master's in technology leadership was established.

The school's growth wasn't limited to degree programs. In 2017, Brown partnered with edX to expand its global reach, launching its first two BrownX courses. The school also began offering custom programs for organizations, bringing Brown faculty expertise to mid-career and senior executives both nationally and internationally. Further, it broke ground on a new building on the former Interstate 195 land in the heart of Providence’s Jewelry District.

“The School of Professional Studies started a journey 10 years ago that it now continues with unlimited possibilities for the future,” Sibley added. “Together, we can represent Brown's excellence, showcase it to the world and transform the lives of students who, in turn, transform organizations.”