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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Director of Athletics Tim Hall has announced the addition of Venessa A. Brown, PhD, to the Intercollegiate Athletics staff.

Brown, who has been a longtime supporter of Cougar athletics, will become the first associate athletics director for diversity, equity and inclusion, and chief diversity officer. Brown is tasked with putting SIUE Athletics at the forefront on campus and across the country with regard to diversity, equity and inclusion.

“I look forward to leading DEI efforts with an athletics family that is diverse, embraces inclusion, strives for equity and is committed to being antiracist,” Brown said of her appointment. “I am excited about meeting with all of the coaches and staff, and developing an Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan that represents ALL of humanity. This is going to be a fun job.”

“We look forward to having Venessa as a key member of our administrative team,” Hall said. “Her efforts will, no doubt, put us in a preeminent position within intercollegiate athletics in regards to comprehensive equity, diversity and inclusion.”

Originally joining the University in 1995 as an assistant professor in the Department of Social Work, Brown became a full professor in 2006. She was most recently the associate chancellor for the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, chief diversity officer and ethics officer at SIUE. She holds a tenured faculty appointment as professor in the Department of Social Work. She also has served as associate provost in the Office of the Provost and Academic Affairs and executive director of the SIUE East Saint Louis Center (ESLC).

Brown already has led several training sessions with SIUE coaches and athletics staff.

In February, Brown was recognized by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education magazine as one of 25 women who have a made a difference in higher education. The special issue was just released.  

“Venessa is one of the foremost trailblazers in the equity, diversity and inclusion space as evidenced by her Diverse: Issue in Higher Education recognition,” Hall added. “The indelible mark she has already left at SIUE is clear and evident.”

Brown also will serve as a special assistant to Chancellor Randy Pembrook and will work to develop an SIUE speaker series on diversity. She will continue her work on SIUE’s annual HEED recognitions, as well as her training with SIUE police in building quality relationships with SIUE faculty, staff, and students.

Brown earned a bachelor’s in social work and psychology at Greenville University in 1983 and a master’s from Atlanta University School of Social Work in 1985. She received a PhD in social work with a concentration in statistics and computer science from Clark Atlanta University in 1994.

“What an exciting opportunity to share my DEI expertise with my athletics family on and off campus,” Brown added. “In the words of my brother, George, we are ‘in it to win it.’ We will win in the DEI space and be a model for athletic departments across the globe.”

Photo: SIUE Associate Athletics Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Chief Diversity Officer Venessa A. Brown.