Patricia “Pat” M. Hendrickson '52, P'80, PAM'88 PhD'08

The true measure of an education is not just what it allows a person to achieve, but what it inspires them to give back. For Patricia “Pat” M. Hendrickson '52, P'80, PAM'88 PhD'08, her degree in biology was the launchpad for a lifetime of intellectual fulfillment. Decades after she walked through the Van Wickle Gates, her gratitude took the form of a lasting legacy that continues to enrich the academic lives of Brown students today: The Elise Lea MacBride Memorial Book Fund.

Following her time at Brown, Hendrickson dedicated her life to education. As a teacher, she brought a blend of academic rigor and mentorship to her classroom. She did not just teach science; she championed her students' individual journeys, providing both academic guidance and personal support to help them thrive.

This profound experience as an educator shaped her philanthropic vision. Hendrickson believed that a university’s greatest strength lies in its collective environment. She recognized that when vibrant minds from different backgrounds come together, it enriches both the individual and the nation as a whole.

Driven by this philosophy, Hendrickson established The Elise Lea MacBride Memorial Book Fund in 1992 in honor of her mother. She continued to support the book fund, which helps Brown’s library purchase materials, during her lifetime and included a bequest in her estate. Just as Hendrickson had supported her own students in the classroom, she wanted to ensure that future generations of Brown students had the resources necessary to reach their full potential.  

“Brown University has a very special meaning to our family as it represents Pat’s education, thus enabling her to reach her personal and professional potential as a woman working in the world of the sciences during the second half of the 20th century.”

— Julia Hendrickson, daughter of Patricia M. Hendrickson '52, P'80, PAM'88 PhD'08