Feature Stories
Jeffery Brown, '73
When Jeffery Brown, ’73 graduated from Thomas Jefferson College at
Grand Valley State University, he couldn’t bring himself to leave
campus. He took a position in the Office of Student Life producing
concerts and other events. Over time, the position evolved first into
the Director of Student Activities, then into the Director of Housing
and Student Activities. Before he knew it, Brown was bringing in big
name acts to Grand Valley such as Aerosmith, Santana, Bill Cosby, and
George Carlin. He was also in charge of Stage III – Grand Valley’s
theatre in Grand Rapids, student recreation, the Health Center,
Student Government, WSRX – GVSU’s radio station, and the Office of
Substance Abuse Prevention. But this was only the beginning of Brown’s
multi-faceted career.
After eight years of improving student life at Grand Valley,
Brown left GVSU to become a full-time entrepreneur. He and wife, Sandy
built and operated four retail shops around Michigan that succeeded
for more than 20 years. During this time, Brown also started running
and became increasingly interested in physiology and kinesiology. Like
the many other interests in his life, Brown’s excitement for athletics
led to great success.
“I was a runner and triathlete,” he said. “So I became a personal
trainer and group exercise instructor. This led to a position as the
Director of the Health and Wellness Center at the Sherman Lake YMCA in
Augusta, Michigan. I also started the first full Pilates studio at a
YMCA outside of Hollywood California and became a Pilate’s instructor.”
Brown continued his career in Health and Wellness until 2007. The
following year, his interests came full circle when he was hired as
the Executive Director of the Poverty Reduction Initiative of
Kalamazoo County. This brought his attention back to his initial
passion that had developed at Grand Valley: Community.
“This work resonated with my earlier academic work at Thomas
Jefferson College in psychology and counseling along with my continued
interest in non-profit management,” he said.
His work at the Poverty Reduction Initiative aided the
development of similar organizations around the state. Dedicated to
promoting education and access to economic opportunity, PRI advocates
for local, state, and national legislative programs that increase
awareness and understanding of issues related to poverty.
Brown has since accepted a position with Communities in Schools
of Michigan. As Executive Director, he uses the knowledge he gained
from PRI and applied it to high school dropout prevention.
“With my background in Poverty Reduction, I am well aware of the
out of classroom issues and specialized needs which vulnerable
children need assistance with,” he said. “These challenges to young
lives have a direct correlation to academic achievement.”
Brown has succeeded in every aspect of his multi-faceted career.
He plans to expand the Communities in Schools program to every
district in the state who reaches out for support and has a need. He
believes that no child should have to struggle for their education and
that everyone should find a career that resonates with their soul.
Updated Spring 2013.
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