Dr. Richard Brown, executive vice chancellor for Finance, Operations, and Information Technology at UTC received the 2016 University of Tennessee Alumni Association Public Service Award for the UT Chattanooga campus. The UTAA Public Service Award recognizes faculty and staff members who make substantial contributions to the welfare and good of the state or national publics.
“Community service and helping others has been instilled in me my entire life,” said Dr. Brown. “Our campus embodies the true spirit of engagement and community service and we are encouraged to be active in our community. I am honored to be recognized for something that just seems to come naturally for me. We are always blessed by being blessings to others.”
Dr. Brown has volunteered with numerous organization in the Chattanooga region and across the state and country. He has been particularly involved in the United Way of Chattanooga. He was recently named to the prestigious United Way Leadership Club in recognition of his longtime commitment, engagement, and support of the Chattanooga United Way. His volunteer work with United Way spans more than 30 years, including more than a decade in board campaign leadership. Known for his fashion sense, Dr. Brown has even contributed neck ties from his collection to raise money for United Way.
He is a graduate and past president of Leadership Chattanooga Alumni Association.
In addition to the United Way, Dr. Brown has served on numerous boards and public service entities including Hamilton County 911, the Juvenile Court Commission, the Community Foundation of Chattanooga, the Enterprise Economic Development Center for the City of Chattanooga, the Community Research Council, the Community Outreach Partnership Center, the Trust for Public Land, Cornerstones Historical Preservation, Siskin Rehabilitation Hospital, and the Bessie Smith Cultural Center.
“Richard Brown is an outstanding higher education administrator, public servant, and Chattanooga alumnus, and we are so proud that he has received this most deserved recognition,” said Jayne Holder, assistant vice chancellor for alumni affairs. “He represents himself and our campus with great distinction and honor.”
Dr. Brown brings more than 30 years of experience and institutional leadership to the field of higher education and has volunteered in many services roles, serving with the Southern Association of College and University Business Officers, the UT Diversity Advisory Council, and the board of directors for the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence. He was selected by UT President Joe DiPietro to chair the UT system-wide Compensation Advisory Board, a mission-critical position charged with the planning and strategic investment in the overall quality of all human capital, along with the development of a five-year competitive compensation plan for all UT campuses.
The Tennessee Higher Education Commission pegged Dr. Brown to assist with the development of a “new higher education performance-based funding model” in compliance with the Complete College Tennessee Act.
Dr. Brown is also a graduate of the Harvard University Business School’s Advanced Management Program. While at Harvard, he studied with financial and business leaders from 42 countries, providing the opportunity to share as well as gain a wealth of knowledge regarding various complex financial, business management, and sustainable economic models.
"Known and highly respected not only in higher education, but also locally, statewide and internationally, Dr. Brown has built a long standing career off hard work, excellence, integrity, fiscal responsibility, and sound business principles," officials said.