Advancement

In 2012-2013, the BULAC E-Board worked to create an endowed scholarship fund for Latinx students at Brown. The scholarship was created in order to provide financial support for Latinx students, opening a world of possibility and purpose through Brown education. The Brown University Latino Alumni Council Endowed Scholarship Fund granted its first scholarship in the fall of 2013 to Juan Carlos Mora ’15. (Read more about the first recipient here.)

In May of 2018, Mercedes Domenech, MD PhD, retired from her role in the Office of Admissions, where she worked for nearly 30 years. Mercedes is a beloved figure in Brown’s community, particularly among Latinx students and diverse alumni who identify her as the reason they chose to come to Brown. In response to requests from BULAC leadership and other Latinx alumni, the BULAC Endowed Scholarship Fund was renamed May 2019 in Mercedes’ honor.  Now, the Mercedes Domenech Brown University Latino Alumni Council Endowed Scholarship Fund will sustain the mission first set in 2013 while simultaneously honoring an exceptional mentor, colleague, and friend.

Thanks to a campaign led by alumni, including Sue Rivera ’91, P’22, Graciela Gerace Cerda ’93, P’22, Victor Cerda ’92, P’22 and many others in the alumni community, the scholarship has been able to raise nearly $123,000 (and counting!) Cauria Duarte Lutton ’20 and Laura Munoz ’20 are the first recipients since the scholarship was renamed to honor Mercedes Domenech.

If you would like to provide additional support for the scholarship, you may do so via our online giving form. Please note that you will be taken to Brown University’s secure online platform to complete your donation.

Alumni Reflections On Mercedes’s Impact on the Latinx Community

Please share the story of Mercedes’ great work with your friends and in your Brown networks.

On December 15, 2020, BULAC held a celebration for Mercedes Domenech as she prepared for her retirement from the University. Alumni across five decades were invited to speak about the impact Mercedes had on their lives and how her work changed the landscape for Latinx students at Brown University. You can find a copy of the recording here.