Together at the Table Lunch Series

In the spirit of the late Anya Bassett, Senior Lecturer and Director of the IAPA program, who had an unrelenting drive to push students to excel while demonstrating unparalleled interest and care for their well-being, the goal of the Together at the Table Lunch Series is to encourage student-faculty interaction in an informal setting outside the classroom. The impact professors have on college students can be profound. 

Not only do they share their expertise and knowledge, but professors have the potential to inspire students to strive for academic excellence, instill confidence, positively impact mental health, influence career aspirations, and change the trajectories of their futures. In return, students can foster a more positive classroom environment, make teaching more rewarding, and provide feedback that can help improve professor communication and strengthen overall instruction skills and effectiveness. 

While both professors and students face continual complex stresses from multiple directions, a deeper understanding of each other would undoubtedly be a benefit to all. The hope is that this opportunity will enhance communication between students and faculty, help develop new personal relationships, strengthen existing ones, and allow both students and professors to learn more from each other.

Spring 2026 Series Coming Soon!

Opportunities to sign up will be emailed directly to IAPA students.

Spring 2025 Series

Luncheons for 8-10 undergraduate students were hosted by Watson faculty members at the Brown University Faculty Club. 
February 25 
Professor Poulami Roychowdhury, Associate Professor of Sociology and International and Public Affairs

March 17
Professor Dawn Brancatti, Senior Lecturer in International and Public Affairs

April 10
Professor Nitsan Chorev, Harmon Family Professor of Sociology and International and Public
Affairs

Fall 2025 Series

October 3 
Professor Reid Pauly, Professor of Political Science and the Dean’s Assistant Professor of Nuclear Security and Policy

November 4 
Professor Christopher Rea, Assistant Professor of Sociology and International and Public Affairs

December 10 
Professor Nicole Pangborn, Director of the Honors Program in International and Public Affairs