Trio of Black Professors Take on New Dean Roles at U.S. Colleges

Brian Brown has advanced from interim dean to the confirmed dean of the School of Business at Virginia Commonwealth University. Joining VCU in 2011 as an assistant professor of marketing, Dr. Brown ascended to full professor within eight years. His research expertise encompasses brand strategy, business-to-business marketing, and product management. Prior to academia, he amassed valuable industry experience, notably as a brand manager with Coca-Cola Classic and as vice president of marketing for Snapper Power Equipment. A University of Virginia alumnus, Dr. Brown earned his MBA from Duke University and his Ph.D. from Georgia State University. Meanwhile, Ronald Hickman has been appointed dean of the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, focusing on critical care and patient-centered approaches in his research.