Dr. Frank Brown

President of Columbus State University (GA)

Educational Background:

Florida State University, Ph. D., 1974
Higher Education Administration

##

By Mandy Hambleton, Feb. 2008

When Dr. Frank Brown (Ph.D. ’74) was hired as the chief financial officer for Columbus State University—then Columbus College—in Columbus, Georgia no one quite expected how long he would stay, nor could they predict the level of impact his presence would have on both the institution and the Columbus community. After over 26 years at Columbus State University—20 of which as University President—Dr. Brown’s work has created remarkable changes and growth both on campus and in the surrounding community.

Born in a small-town in Alabama, Dr. Brown grew up an honesty-driven home where he quickly learned that, “it is easier to live your life when you are honest with people.” After graduating from high school in the small southern town of Flomaton, Alabama, Dr. Brown began his higher education studies at Northwest Mississippi Community College and eventually earned a B.B.A. from the University of Southern Mississippi. Several years later he earned his MBA from the University of Alabama and went to work for IBM shortly thereafter.

It was during his time at IBM that Dr. Brown first gained an interest in higher education. He had four higher education institutions in his region for IBM and he became very intrigued when he visited their campuses to discuss their use of IBM products and services. While many college and university presidents rise through the academic or advancement ranks, Dr. Brown saw the business end of higher education as an avenue where he could make a contribution.

Dr. Brown and his wife, Jo Ann, both earned their doctoral degrees at Florida State University and have very fond memories of Tallahassee, FSU, and the friends they made while they were here. Not only was Dr. Brown fortunate enough to find an institution where both he and his wife could complete their degrees at the same time, he was also fortunate enough to have a class with Dr. Hardee, which he describes as a “whirlwind.” Coming from a business background, Dr. Brown had some initial challenges in adjusting to Dr. Hardee’s nontraditional teaching style and impromptu field trips, but he soon adjusted to “the strangest assignments” he had ever seen.

Upon graduation, Dr. Brown took a position as Associate Executive Director of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education in Montgomery, Alabama. From Alabama he then moved to Houston, Texas in 1978 to serve as the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Finance and Operations at the University of Houston. In 1980, he was appointed as the Interim Vice Chancellor.

Following his stay in Houston, Dr. Brown moved his family to Columbus, Georgia where he accepted the position of Vice President for Business and Finance and Associate Professor of Management at Columbus College. Dr. Brown was appointed as the college’s third president on January 14, 1988. After 20 years as University President, Dr. Brown will retire from Columbus State University on June 30, 2008.

Although many institutions look at what usually happens when a president is chosen—and academic or institutional advancement person is promoted or hired--, he believes that background is not as important as heart, and he believes that is what separated him from the other presidential candidates. His background has also been helpful when working with the governing board for the State of Georgia’s public universities, which is comprised entirely of business people. Dr. Brown is able to balance the business viewpoint with the educational standpoint in many discussions and policy issues. According to his Columbus State University biography, “During [Dr. Brown’s] tenure at CSU, the university has developed partnerships with the community, business and industry, education and governments that some say are stronger than any other university in the country.”

While many may view a business background as a nontraditional track for a university president, Dr. Brown counters that ideology with the variety of ways in which higher education institutions are similar to large corporations. However, he makes a clear distinction between the two: “The bottom line cannot guide what we do as educators as it does in business. This field is about people helping people.” His dedication to education and people has helped to revitalize the Columbus community. “On his watch, the T. Y. Whitley Clock Tower was built in the center of campus, quickly becoming the university’s landmark. Other significant campus growth includes new facilities such as Lenoir Hall, the Lumpkin Center, the Coca-Cola Space Science Center, the Center for Commerce and Technology, the Cunningham Center, the Schwob School of Music in the River Center for the Performing Arts, the Rankin Arts Center in Uptown Columbus, and apartment buildings that now house almost 1,000 students. More recently, the university has acquired a beautiful home in Oxford England for study abroad programs and has developed a spectacular downtown campus which includes housing for 350 students in support of world-class facilities for the departments of art and theatre and the Schwob School of Music” (www.colstate.edu).

In his 20 years as president, Dr. Brown has noted several significant changes in the role of university president. There has been a significant amount of emphasis placed on fundraising, especially at public institutions. He also noted that, “financial aid is a tragedy right now. We have allowed the government to move away from need-based grants to need-based loans. It is time that our society realizes that investing in our young people’s education benefits both the students and society.” He urges up and coming professionals to learn as much as they can about institutional advancement, as he continues to see importance placed on this aspect of university operations, especially in the midst of budget crunches.

With all of the past, present, and future pressures facing university presidents, one might fear that a focus on the campus community and learning will become second to a focus on fundraising and politics. However, for those individuals who have been lucky enough to experience the love and leadership that Dr. Frank Brown has put into all of the higher education institutions he has worked for, and especially those at Columbus State University, they know that it is possible to maintain a down-to-earth mentality and a true servant-leadership approach to the presidency. In fact, when I e-mailed Dr. Brown to ask him if he would allow me to interview him for this article, I not only received a prompt response, but the response came directly from him.

If there is one piece of advice Dr. Brown could share with his colleagues in the field of higher education, it would be this: “Don’t put barriers between yourself and the people you work with. Open your door, open your e-mail, and answer your phone. Make yourself available to others.”

After such a long period of time and investment into the faculty, staff, students, and community of the same institution, one might wonder How do you know when it is time to leave? For Dr. Brown that decision was difficult, but he knows that it is the right time for both the institution and for him. “The institution is as a lever of achievement that many never dreamed of and as we look at our long-range plans, it is time for someone else to take the reins for the next ten years or more.” Dr. Brown plans to remain in Columbus and stay active within the community, but he is ready to see what someone else can do for the university that is so near and dear to his heart. When asked how he is feeling about his upcoming retirement, Dr. Brown announced, “I think I am going to miss the heck out of this job.” After a wonderful 26 years at Columbus State, I have no doubt that the faculty, staff, students, and alumni are going to miss the heck out of him as well.


				Dr. Frank Brown President of Columbus State University (GA) Educational Background: Florida State University, Ph. D., 1974 Higher Education Administration ## By Mandy Hambleton, Feb. 2008 When Dr. Frank Brown (Ph.D. ’74) was hired as the chief financial officer for Columbus State University—then Columbus College—in Columbus, Georgia no one quite expected how long he would stay, nor could they predict the level of impact his presence would have on both the institution and the Columbus community. After over 26 years at Columbus State University—20 of which as University President—Dr. Brown’s work has created remarkable changes and growth both on campus and in the surrounding community. Born in a small-town in Alabama, Dr. Brown grew up an honesty-driven home where he quickly learned that, “it is easier to live your life when you are honest with people.” After graduating from high school in the small southern town of Flomaton, Alabama, Dr. Brown began his higher education studies at Northwest Mississippi Community College and eventually earned a B.B.A. from the University of Southern Mississippi. Several years later he earned his MBA from the University of Alabama and went to work for IBM shortly thereafter. It was during his time at IBM that Dr. Brown first gained an interest in higher education. He had four higher education institutions in his region for IBM and he became very intrigued when he visited their campuses to discuss their use of IBM products and services. While many college and university presidents rise through the academic or advancement ranks, Dr. Brown saw the business end of higher education as an avenue where he could make a contribution. Dr. Brown and his wife, Jo Ann, both earned their doctoral degrees at Florida State University and have very fond memories of Tallahassee, FSU, and the friends they made while they were here. Not only was Dr. Brown fortunate enough to find an institution where both he and his wife could complete their degrees at the same time, he was also fortunate enough to have a class with Dr. Hardee, which he describes as a “whirlwind.” Coming from a business background, Dr. Brown had some initial challenges in adjusting to Dr. Hardee’s nontraditional teaching style and impromptu field trips, but he soon adjusted to “the strangest assignments” he had ever seen. Upon graduation, Dr. Brown took a position as Associate Executive Director of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education in Montgomery, Alabama. From Alabama he then moved to Houston, Texas in 1978 to serve as the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Finance and Operations at the University of Houston. In 1980, he was appointed as the Interim Vice Chancellor. Following his stay in Houston, Dr. Brown moved his family to Columbus, Georgia where he accepted the position of Vice President for Business and Finance and Associate Professor of Management at Columbus College. Dr. Brown was appointed as the college’s third president on January 14, 1988. After 20 years as University President, Dr. Brown will retire from Columbus State University on June 30, 2008. Although many institutions look at what usually happens when a president is chosen—and academic or institutional advancement person is promoted or hired--, he believes that background is not as important as heart, and he believes that is what separated him from the other presidential candidates. His background has also been helpful when working with the governing board for the State of Georgia’s public universities, which is comprised entirely of business people. Dr. Brown is able to balance the business viewpoint with the educational standpoint in many discussions and policy issues. According to his Columbus State University biography, “During [Dr. Brown’s] tenure at CSU, the university has developed partnerships with the community, business and industry, education and governments that some say are stronger than any other university in the country.” While many may view a business background as a nontraditional track for a university president, Dr. Brown counters that ideology with the variety of ways in which higher education institutions are similar to large corporations. However, he makes a clear distinction between the two: “The bottom line cannot guide what we do as educators as it does in business. This field is about people helping people.” His dedication to education and people has helped to revitalize the Columbus community. “On his watch, the T. Y. Whitley Clock Tower was built in the center of campus, quickly becoming the university’s landmark. Other significant campus growth includes new facilities such as Lenoir Hall, the Lumpkin Center, the Coca-Cola Space Science Center, the Center for Commerce and Technology, the Cunningham Center, the Schwob School of Music in the River Center for the Performing Arts, the Rankin Arts Center in Uptown Columbus, and apartment buildings that now house almost 1,000 students. More recently, the university has acquired a beautiful home in Oxford England for study abroad programs and has developed a spectacular downtown campus which includes housing for 350 students in support of world-class facilities for the departments of art and theatre and the Schwob School of Music” (www.colstate.edu). In his 20 years as president, Dr. Brown has noted several significant changes in the role of university president. There has been a significant amount of emphasis placed on fundraising, especially at public institutions. He also noted that, “financial aid is a tragedy right now. We have allowed the government to move away from need-based grants to need-based loans. It is time that our society realizes that investing in our young people’s education benefits both the students and society.” He urges up and coming professionals to learn as much as they can about institutional advancement, as he continues to see importance placed on this aspect of university operations, especially in the midst of budget crunches. With all of the past, present, and future pressures facing university presidents, one might fear that a focus on the campus community and learning will become second to a focus on fundraising and politics. However, for those individuals who have been lucky enough to experience the love and leadership that Dr. Frank Brown has put into all of the higher education institutions he has worked for, and especially those at Columbus State University, they know that it is possible to maintain a down-to-earth mentality and a true servant-leadership approach to the presidency. In fact, when I e-mailed Dr. Brown to ask him if he would allow me to interview him for this article, I not only received a prompt response, but the response came directly from him. If there is one piece of advice Dr. Brown could share with his colleagues in the field of higher education, it would be this: “Don’t put barriers between yourself and the people you work with. Open your door, open your e-mail, and answer your phone. Make yourself available to others.” After such a long period of time and investment into the faculty, staff, students, and community of the same institution, one might wonder How do you know when it is time to leave? For Dr. Brown that decision was difficult, but he knows that it is the right time for both the institution and for him. “The institution is as a lever of achievement that many never dreamed of and as we look at our long-range plans, it is time for someone else to take the reins for the next ten years or more.” Dr. Brown plans to remain in Columbus and stay active within the community, but he is ready to see what someone else can do for the university that is so near and dear to his heart. When asked how he is feeling about his upcoming retirement, Dr. Brown announced, “I think I am going to miss the heck out of this job.” After a wonderful 26 years at Columbus State, I have no doubt that the faculty, staff, students, and alumni are going to miss the heck out of him as well.