Event Strategy and Management

What We Do

We offer varying scopes of services as strategists, consultants, planners and on-site event managers to help support the goals of Brown events.

What We Do

We offer varying scopes of services as strategists, consultants, planners and on-site event managers to help support the goals of Brown events.

The Event Strategy and Management (ESM) team partners with departments and academic units at Brown to guide, develop and plan strategic events that reflect the University’s mission of academic excellence and align with University priorities.

We offer consultation services, guides, models and templates to support effective event planning, including for departments that do not work with ESM.
We partner with offices and departments on planning initiatives for a diverse range of high-impact events, from lectures and conferences to virtual events and ceremonies.
We support the production of the University’s major “signature” events — such as Commencement, Convocation, Family Weekend, A Day on College Hill and major lecture series — through successful coordination and collaboration with campus stakeholders.
We share our knowledge with the broader Brown network of event planners through a “community of practice” that is designed to increase the impact of all events on campus through centralized guidance, resources and best practices.

How We Work With You

You know your audience, while we know event strategy and planning.

ESM operates using a service model that prioritizes partnership while also maximizing University resources. We prioritize working alongside the departments and offices hosting Brown events to ensure success. We collaborate closely to promote compliance with University policies and to leverage efficient processes to ensure that events meet strategic goals, effectively engage Brown audiences and maximize University resources.

We also offer resources and guidance to promote the independent planning of high-quality events across campus.

Scope of Services

We contribute our expertise to a range of services for campus event planners to help achieve the goals of an event.

Consultation Services

Whether you are an experienced event planner, new to event planning, or just want to stay current on the latest event policies and procedures at Brown, we can provide you with the resources you need to successfully plan your event. At this level, Event Strategy and Management will provide a one-time consultation on the project and will direct you to additional resources that can be utilized as you plan and manage your event.

Planning Services

If it is determined that your event meets the criteria for planning services, the Event Strategy team will assist you with the design and planning of your event, and point you to solutions for how you can execute and staff your event independently. A professional Event Manager can help navigate the policies and procedures related to producing an event on the Brown campus and they can provide expert advice on many aspects of event planning at Brown. After planning is complete, you will have all the information you need to lead the management and execution of the event.

Full-Service Event Planning

Our team provides full event management assistance for a limited number of events with complex logistics, events expecting a large number of attendees or ones that feature prominent speakers or visiting dignitaries. If the Event Strategy is able to provide this level of partnership, we will assist with event design and planning, as well as the management and execution of your event. We will also work with you to determine how we can best support staffing your event.

Professional Support

Through a “community of practice” for event planners, ESM guides event organizers and planners for academic and administrative units to create engaging and meaningful audience experiences. Through an informative website and regular training sessions, ESM is committed to cultivating an environment of learning and sharing best practices that allows for all event planners to develop professionally and manage events independently. We are focused on providing the University community with the resources they need to produce successful Brown events.

Signature Events Portfolio

The Event Strategy and Management team leads the planning and execution of many high-impact events that are central to Brown's traditions and mission.

Explore Portfolio

Submit a Request

It all starts with an inquiry. Tell us what you hope to accomplish through your event. Describe your vision and desired outcomes, and the Event Strategy Team can determine how best to assist.

Submit a Request

If you need to order equipment or an event setup, please contact Event Operations in Facilities Management, which is a separate service provider in a different department at Brown and not part of Event Strategy and Management.