Thomas Brown

Tom served as an educator in academic and student affairs for 27 years, most recently as the dean of advising services and special programs at Saint Mary’s College of California. There he developed and administered Saint Mary’s nationally recognized academic advising program. He also developed the High Potential Program, which provided access and support to first-generation students from economically and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds. Graduation rates for High Potential students exceeded those for all other cohorts at Saint Mary’s. Tom has served as a consultant to more than 350 colleges and universities in the US and abroad, and he is regularly invited to deliver keynote addresses at national conferences, campus colloquia, and workshops for faculty and staff. He is known for his ability to engage, inspire, and motivate students. He has published and presented extensively in areas related to student retention, academic advising, international education, and promoting the achievement and success of multicultural, international, and at-risk students.  He recently co-edited and wrote for the 2011 monograph, Fulfilling the Promise of the Community College: Increasing First-Year Student Engagement and Success, which was co-sponsored by the American Association of Community Colleges and the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition at the University of South Carolina. Tom has held numerous leadership positions in the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA), served as chair of the Pre-law Advisors National Council, and has earned numerous awards and recognition for his leadership and program development in the US and abroad.