Fischler College Spotlights Alumna DeShanna K. Brown

DeShanna K. Brown graduated from the Abraham S. Fischer College of Education and School of Criminal Justice in 2016 with her doctorate in Higher Education Leadership. Brown also holds a bachelor’s degree from Kennesaw State University and a master’s degree from the Keller Graduate School of Management at DeVry University.

She started her higher education career in the Office of Undergraduate Studies Dual Enrollment & Honors Program at Kennesaw State in 2003. She began her career in development at Georgia State University in 2005. She continued to progress in her career, holding positions at private and public institutions, including Spelman College and Louisiana State University, eventually becoming the vice president for institutional advancement, development, marketing and communications at Edward Waters College (EWC).

In 2020, she was recognized by the Jacksonville Business Journal as a 2020 Woman of Influence! For nearly two decades, the Business Journal has sought to honor women whose leadership has helped their companies grow, shaped the next generation, and provided a model for the community. While at EWC, she worked strategically to create transformative philanthropic opportunities to move the higher education agenda forward for students at one of the first historically black colleges and universities on the First Coast.

Brown says that by receiving her Ed.D. from Nova Southeastern University she has leveraged her career in more ways than one. When asked how she overcomes change, she said she deals with changes by really leaning in on grit. GRIT is an acronym that she developed! Number one is gravitas; an individual needs to be very patient and thankful. Next, they must be R, a risk-taker. Thirdly, they must be I, individuals need to be inventive and intuitive, and lastly T, you must take the initiative!