Dr. Josie Brown has been appointed Interim Dean of the Western New England University College of Arts & Sciences.
Dr. Curt Hamakawa, acting University Provost, recently made the announcement August 3, citing Brown's dedication and commitment to the College of Arts & Sciences and the University. "Dr. Brown stood out to me for her passion and compassion; that is, her unquestioned loyalty and commitment to Western New England University, and her abiding devotion to the wellbeing of our students. Over her 18-year tenure at Western New England University, Dr. Brown has earned the admiration, respect, and support of her peers and colleagues, as well as the legions of students who have graced our campus over this period."
A native of Wilbraham, Brown joined the College of Arts & Science faculty in 2003, most recently serving as the Assistant Dean for Arts and Sciences, Professor of African American, Caribbean, and Black Literatures, and student advisor as well as the Study Abroad Assistant Director.
As an undergraduate Dr. Brown double-majored in English and African-American Studies at Bates College. She then went on to pursue a Master's of Arts in English at Queens College in New York. Brown earned her Ph.D. in English from Stony Brook with concentration in African-American, Caribbean, and Post-Colonial Literatures.
In September 2019, Brown was honored by the African American Female Professors Award Association. "Dr. Josie Brown is a scholar of many talents. She is an outstanding teacher, an authority in Caribbean literatures, a superb higher education administrator, and an expert and a leader in diversity," said Saeed Ghahramani, who will be rejoining the University's College of Arts & Sciences faculty where he previously served Dean since 2000.
