Brian Brown named the VCU School of Business Dean – VCU News

By VCU information staff

BRian P. Brown, Ph.D.Will be the dean of Virginia Commonwealth University School of Business, from April 25.

Brown, professor in the marketing department, has been the school’s temporary dean since January 2024. The visitors’ council will officially examine the appointment at its next quarterly meeting. Brown was selected after national research.

“For almost a year and a half, Brian Brown has directed the VCU of the activity school as an acting dean with distinction,” said Fotis Sotiropoulos, Ph.D., Provost and Vice-President Director of Academic Affairs. “His unique mix of experience – both as a marketing practitioner for major national brands and a researcher with an impressive list of published works – is a formidable adjustment for a school that constantly unites theory and practice throughout his study offers. In just one year, Brian has led the development of the new strategic plan of the school, brought solid leaders in his administrative team and also managed to develop the school’s strategic plan.

“Brian understands what it means to succeed in an increasingly competitive higher education environment, and I am convinced that he will take our business school to new heights of excellence.”

After being a deputy professor for five years at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he won a prize for exceptional education, Brown joined VCU as a deputy teacher in 2011, moving to the rank of the associate professor in 2013 and professor in 2019. Brown has more than 15 years of experience in marketing, management and advice. His journey includes several years at Coca-Cola company, including a role as Coca-Cola Classic brand director. More recently, he was vice-president of marketing at Snapper Power Equipment.

“I am honored and humiliated to lead a school where I spent the most formative years of my university career,” said Brown. “Growing within this community gave me a deep appreciation for people and what makes the school of business distinctive – our goal and our motivation. In all teachers and staff, there is a common commitment to give students the best possible experience, to advance research, to open doors to new opportunities and to remain connected to the world around us.

Brown’s research interests include brand strategy, business marketing and product management. He has published articles in several of the best marketing university journals, including the Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, International Journal of Research in Marketing, Industrial Marketing Management, Journal of Brand Management and Journal of Business Research. He sits on the editorial examination committee of the Journal of Business Research. The VCU School of Business awarded Brown the price of the most inspiring teachers in 2013 and a prize of excellence in 2019. It was also selected to be a provost researcher in 2022.

The members of the Brown Board of Directors include the VCU Contemporary Art Institute, the preservation of Virginia and the VPM. He won his doctorate. From Georgia State University, his MBA from Duke University and his BA from the University of Virginia.