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 WCU Stories      May 1, 2019

The pursuit of higher education has become a family affair for 甜瓜视频app Chancellor-elect Kelli R. Brown, whose father insisted that his children seek four-year degrees despite the fact that he was the first member of his family to have a college degree.

鈥淚 firmly believe in higher education,鈥� said Brown, who is coming to WCU from her role as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Georgia College & State University. 鈥淚 believe that a post-secondary degree is critical for changing the trajectory of one鈥檚 life and in turn their family鈥檚 lives. It certainly has changed my life.鈥�

In her first address to the campus community since being named WCU鈥檚 12th chancellor on Thursday, April 25, Brown described how her passion for higher education leadership is grounded in her professional career and her family鈥檚 experiences. She received a standing ovation from several hundred faculty, staff, students, community members, alumni and donors gathered Monday, April 29, in the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center.

 鈥淢y father was the only one in his family to have a college degree. My paternal grandparents graduated from the eighth grade. My maternal grandparents and my mother graduated from high school. My mother took some classes in college, but she was not a college graduate,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淵et, my parents believed in a college education for all three of their children. They instilled in us there was no other option 鈥� you were going to college.鈥�

Brown, whose first tentative steps into a career in public health education began as a technical college student studying to become a dental hygienist, would go on to obtain bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees from the University of Toledo and a doctorate in education from Southern Illinois University. Her two siblings both are college graduates, and their children are either college graduates or are currently enrolled in universities.

Brown鈥檚 husband, Dennis Brown, is a first-generation college student whose parents both earned their GED certificates later in life. His sisters both earned degrees as adults, and their children all have four-year degrees, she said.

鈥淭his is what I mean by changing a family鈥檚 life. And this is what Western Carolina University is doing for students, not only in the 17 westernmost counties of North Carolina, but beyond the borders of North Carolina,鈥� she said. 鈥淎 college education changes one鈥檚 life. It provides opportunities, it opens doors and it makes people better community citizens.鈥�

Brown also spoke of the impact of her mother, who passed away in the fall of 2013, just a few months after her daughter became provost at Georgia College.

鈥淪he never really got a chance to see me in my provost role, but I know she is watching me now, and that she could not be any prouder. She guided, nudged, encouraged, supported and inspired me to work hard, despite disappointments or setbacks, and I am the woman I am today because of her,鈥� she said.

鈥淲e all have people in our lives who have nudged us along the way, suggested an opportunity such as going to graduate school or maybe getting involved in a special program, or have encouraged us to challenge ourselves. I feel pretty confident that WCU faculty, staff and alumni have encouraged, nudged, supported and inspired many students to go a little further, take a chance, do something they never thought of,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淭his is what makes WCU a very special place, and this is why I am deeply honored and humbled to be selected as this university鈥檚 next chancellor.鈥�

Among Brown鈥檚 first orders of business will be to listen and to learn from members of the campus community. 鈥淚 want to be known as fully collaborative and transparent, and to develop initiatives and solve problems through open discussions with all of our many stakeholders,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 truly believe that we will do our best work when we work together.鈥�

Brown also acknowledged that she realizes she is following in the footsteps of a beloved leader, David O. Belcher, who died in June 2018 after a two-year battle with brain cancer.

鈥淎ll leaders stand upon the shoulders of those who came before,鈥� she said. 鈥淛ust as David Belcher built upon the solid foundation left behind by his predecessor, I pledge to do everything within my power to ensure that 甜瓜视频app continues to thrive during my time among its stewards.鈥�

Brown said that she is in total agreement with 鈥� and inspired by 鈥� Belcher鈥檚 oft-repeated mantra that 鈥溙鸸鲜悠礱pp is in the business of changing lives.鈥�

鈥淲estern Carolina has the opportunity be a thought leader in regards to how regionally engaged universities can maintain a student-centered focus, with high levels of teaching innovation, yet at the same time graduate first-generation and diverse students at a rate that exceeds the norm,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 believe Western Carolina is the place that others look to for solutions to complex higher education challenges.鈥�

Brown closed by introducing her husband to the crowd as 鈥渁 wonderful partner.鈥�

Welcoming the Browns to the stage was Patricia B. Kaemmerling, chair of the WCU Board of Trustees and co-chair of the committee that guided the search for WCU鈥檚 new chancellor. Kaemmerling introduced members of the search committee and thanked Alison Morrison-Shetlar, WCU provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs since January 2014, for serving as interim chancellor.

The University of North Carolina Board of Governors on April 25 approved UNC System Interim President Bill Roper鈥檚 selection of Brown from among three final candidates for the position of chancellor. The finalists were chosen by a 21-person search committee made up of representatives of WCU鈥檚 trustees, faculty, staff, administration and students, as well as alumni and community members, and one non-voting member from the UNC Board of Governors 鈥� David Powers, who serves as that board鈥檚 liaison to WCU.

Brown鈥檚 appointment as chancellor is effective July 1.