The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) recently welcomed its newest team member, Stephanie Brown, Ed.D., as Assistant Director of Pre-Award Services! In this role, Steph will engage UHart faculty and staff in the processes, regulations, and preparation of external grant proposals that support research, professional practices, and other projects.
Steph is a seasoned higher education administrator, having previously served as an undergraduate program coordinator, academic advisor, and grants administrator. For the past ten years she has focused on working with Hispanic Serving Institutions, helping first-generation and economically underserved students in urban settings. She has experience applying for grants with fellow educators at University of Massachusetts, Mount Holyoke College, and Amherst College. Most recently at Springfield Technical Community College (STCC), she directed their new STEM Center where she oversaw the $3M HSI/STEM Department of Education grant that funded it.
In addition to her administrative roles, Steph has served as a visiting professor in architecture and design programs at the University of Pennsylvania, the Art Institute of Seattle, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, Hampshire College, Amherst College, UMass, STCC, and Cambridge College. Steph was also an architect and worked on both the East and West coasts for over 20 years.
Born and raised in Northampton, MA, Steph is an alum of UHart’s Ed.D. program (’23) where her research focused primarily on trauma and resilience in women of color in higher education and highlighting data disparities in indigenous student populations in U.S. higher education. She has presented at numerous conferences and prioritizes service and volunteer work, which have included: serving on the Dean’s Advisory Counsel in ENHP when she was completing her doctorate; serving as a committee member on doctoral dissertation and search committees at Cambridge College; recently completing terms as a board member on CT ACE Women’s Network and Springfield Parenting and Partnering Project; and serving as a volunteer for environmental and arts-focused organizations in her community. Steph also holds an M.S. from UMass, an M.Arch from UPenn, and a B.S. from Northeastern University.
OSP is looking forward to incorporating Steph’s passion for faculty and higher education into its work, and she is very excited to meet everyone in our community. Please welcome Steph to her new role!