Director of Learning and Organizational Strategy - Medill School of Journalism and Integrated Marketing Communications
Robert Brown, PhD (he, him, his) serves as the Director of Learning and Organizational Strategy in the Medill School of Journalism and Integrated Marketing Communications at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, where he works alongside students, faculty, and staff to reimagine pedagogy, policy, and programs. Previously, he served as the inaugural Director of Social Justice Education at Northwestern, where he led several curricular and co-curricular institutional social justice education initiatives. He also provides organizational development consultation and training with a focus on social justice, leadership, and organizational change. His work centers on dismantling systems of oppression through critical dialogue and reflection intertwined with theoretical concepts. Prior to joining Northwestern, Rob held professional roles in Residence Life and Multicultural Affairs at Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Robert has presented and facilitated regionally and nationally on topics related to social justice education, racial justice, inclusive pedagogy, identity-conscious supervision, assessment & evaluation, college men & masculinities, and civic engagement. Rob is an alumnus of the Social Justice Training Institute (SJTI), a past faculty and intern with SJTI, Lead Facilitator with LeaderShape, and has held leadership roles in NASPA and ACPA. Robert holds a BS in Finance and Community Service Studies from DePaul University, MA in Student Affairs Administration from Michigan State University, and a PhD in Higher Education Leadership from Colorado State University. He was honored to receive the 2020 DePaul University Distinguished Alumni Award for his commitment to the Vincentian mission through his leadership on equity and social justice issues. Most recently, he was selected as an IMPACT Leadership Development Program Fellow by the Chicago Urban League, which provides a unique opportunity to engage civically and drive meaningful change in the city of Chicago. Robert’s research interests explore topics related to equity and inclusion in higher education, faculty development and critical pedagogy, and identity-conscious supervision and management. In 2020, he co-authored Identity-Conscious Supervision in Student Affairs: Building Relationships & Transforming Institutions, published by Routledge.
He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and enjoys traveling, golfing, binge watching TV shows, cooking, watching sports, and spending time with his wife, sons, and friends and family around Chicago! Rob works diligently to bring his professional experiences, research interests, and passion for social justice to life through his work as a social justice educator always seeking to create space for community building, healing, and liberation.