Richard Brown confessed to being flattered when he learned the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga would be naming a new scholarship program after him.
“At first, I was humbled and honored, but then I was excited,” he says. “This will create an opportunity for access for underserved students. I believe access to higher education transforms lives for generations to come.”
Brown, Ph.D., who provided more than 38 years of service to UTC and the University of Tennessee System, is the namesake of the new Richard Brown Inclusive Access Scholarship at UTC.
The scholarship – a collaboration of the Division of Diversity and Engagement, the Division of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, in conjunction with the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships – commemorates the contributions of Brown, who began working for the university in 1984 and rose to executive vice chancellor for administration and finance.
He then took on a dual role in 2021 as a special adviser to UTC Chancellor Steven Angle and UTS President Randy Boyd before retiring at the end of the year.
“Richard was a tireless advocate for excellence and inclusion, and he has mentored countless students and employees and been a role model for many others,” Angle says. “These scholarships are a fitting tribute for his impact here.”
During the 2022-2023 academic year, 30 UTC students from the Chattanooga region are benefiting from this new scholarship. The students come from Brainerd, East Ridge, Hixson, The Howard School, Red Bank and Tyner Academy in Hamilton County.
“We nominated students from local schools with demonstrated academic achievement,” says Stacy Lightfoot, vice chancellor for the Division of Diversity and Engagement. “This scholarship provides better access for students to complete college.
“Dr. Brown overcame barriers gracefully and graciously. When he retired, the role he held here was one of the highest roles you can have. That is what access allows.”
As a young child living in the Chattanooga community, Brown could not access the university he later served for close to four decades – so he’s well-versed in overcoming barriers. He said having the ability to obtain bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the institution transformed his life.
“I obtained five college degrees as a working adult and I believe in lifelong learning,” Brown says. “That’s the transformative impact accessing the university had for me. It created this desire for continuous improvement of my life.”
Those degrees as an adult learner included a pair of doctoral degrees and an MBA. Brown also graduated from the prestigious Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program.
“By virtue of that, I became a role model for other students, as well as young people within my own family and community. They were inspired to complete a college degree themselves,” he says.
Lightfoot says Brown was involved in drafting some of the philosophies for the scholarship, suggesting ideas for who should receive the award.
“He said, ‘Make sure you think about the adult learner. Make sure you think about the veteran student,’” Lightfoot recalls. “So he owns some of this process. This isn’t just an award in his honor; this is an award he helped create.”
“The university is interested in ensuring all students – regardless of race, creed, ethnicity or color – can have reasonable access to higher education,” Brown says.