Rebecca Brown is the Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and University Governance, where she serves as a thought partner to the Chancellor and the cabinet. She is also a designated strategic liaison to various constituencies internal and external to the university. As Board Secretary, Rebecca is responsible for working alongside the Board of Chair and Chancellor on matters of university governance. Most recently her professional efforts have focused on restoration of trust in higher education through championing academic freedom, free expression, institutional neutrality, student access, and preparation of graduates for engaged lives and meaningful careers. She is a frequent speaker on governance best practices and combatting hate and antisemitism on college campuses.
Rebecca’s career in higher education also includes roles as Associate Counsel in the Office of General Counsel at Washington University, Associate Dean for Career Services in the School of Law, and Chief of Staff of the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts at the University of Michigan. She holds a J.D. from Washington University and a B.A. in Communications from Purdue University. Rebecca has also served as a litigation associate with an international law firm and as in-house counsel for a subsidiary of a Global Fortune 500 company.
