Dr. Stephanie Brown

Dr. Brown, a seasoned higher education administrator and accomplished architect, brings extensive experience and a passion for supporting diverse student populations to this pivotal leadership role.

As the College’s Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Brown oversees all aspects of academic programming, including full-time and adjunct faculty, academic departments, Trio staff, and the Teaching and Learning Center for Excellence. Reporting directly to the President, she serves as a key member of WCCC’s senior leadership team, providing visionary leadership in program development, assessment, and academic integrity. Her responsibilities also include ensuring adherence to academic policies, guiding professional development initiatives, supporting accreditation processes, pursuing grant opportunities, and fostering strategic partnerships with educational institutions and community organizations.

Dr. Brown’s distinguished career spans higher education administration, teaching, and architectural practice. Most recently, she served as the Assistant Director of Pre-Award Services in the Office of Sponsored Programs at the University of Hartford, where she supported faculty and staff in securing external grants for research and professional projects. At Springfield Technical Community College (STCC), she directed the STEM Center, overseeing a $3M HSI/STEM Department of Education grant that funded its establishment. For the past decade, Dr. Brown has focused on supporting first-generation and economically underserved students at Hispanic Serving Institutions in urban settings, with prior roles as an undergraduate program coordinator, academic advisor, and grants administrator. She has collaborated on grant applications with educators at the University of Massachusetts, Mount Holyoke College, and Amherst College.

In addition to her administrative expertise, Dr. Brown has served as a visiting professor in architecture and design at prestigious institutions, including the University of Pennsylvania, the Art Institute of Seattle, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, Hampshire College, Amherst College, UMass, STCC, and Cambridge College. Before transitioning to academia, she practiced as an architect for over 20 years on both the East and West coasts.

A native of Northampton, Massachusetts, Dr. Brown holds an Ed.D. from the University of Hartford (’23), where her research focused on trauma and resilience in women of color in higher education and data disparities in Indigenous student populations. She also earned an M.S. from UMass, an M.Arch from the University of Pennsylvania, and a B.S. from Northeastern University. Dr. Brown is a dedicated community servant, having served on the Dean’s Advisory Council at the University of Hartford, doctoral dissertation and search committees at Cambridge College, and as a board member for the Connecticut ACE Women’s Network and the Springfield Parenting and Partnering Project. She is also an active volunteer for environmental and arts-focused organizations.