Brown University President Christina H. Paxson announced on April 14 that a new committee of faculty, staff, and students has been tasked with recommending a permanent campus memorial for Ella Cook and MukhammadAziz Umurzokov. The two undergraduates lost their lives in the mass shooting on Brown’s campus on December 13, 2025.
The move aims to ensure the lasting remembrance of Cook and Umurzokov while supporting the university community’s ongoing recovery from the tragedy. The committee will facilitate discussions among students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the families of those lost to determine meaningful elements for the memorial’s design and location.
“Creating a physical memorial on campus will be an important part of our community’s journey of recovery and repair, which continues to be supported by the campus-wide Brown Ever True effort,” Paxson wrote. “An essential part of the committee’s work will be to engage the campus and alumni communities in conceiving a vision for a memorial that pays homage to Ella and Mukhammad, and serves as an enduring tribute to the values they embodied as members of the Brown community.”
The committee is expected to submit its recommendations by the end of Brown’s Fall 2026 semester. These recommendations will include goals for a formal call for artists or designers as well as suggestions for related programming or curricula tied to remembrance efforts. Co-chaired by University Architect Craig Barton and Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion Matthew Guterl, membership will include representatives nominated by various governance organizations across faculty, staff, undergraduate, graduate student bodies.
Paxson also provided updates about plans to renovate classrooms in Barus & Holley—the site where the shooting occurred—with hopes that these spaces can reopen within a year. She noted this process would involve sensitivity toward affected departments.
In addition to planning for a permanent memorial, recent months have seen events such as community services honoring Cook and Umurzokov; outreach campaigns expressing gratitude toward Providence residents; recognition events planned for first responders; ongoing support programs under “Brown Ever True”; as well as future opportunities aimed at reflection throughout coming months.
Paxson concluded her message with: “I remain deeply committed to the healing we continue together as a community and to ensuring that students, faculty and staff have the resources and support needed to move forward.”
