New dean says ESU has right focus
Emporia State University
Thursday, July 26, 2007
By Emporia State University
A new face arrived this month at Emporia State University.
Steven Brown, is the new dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Along with his upbeat personality and warming smile, he brings a wealth of experience to ESU.
“I knew about the nature of ESU, its standards, its expectations — things I value in higher education,” Brown said. “ESU ... truly keeps its focus on the students, which is the most important thing. ... That carries a lot of weight with me and that is definitely not a nationwide trend,” he said.
Brown received both his bachelor of science and master’s degrees in music education from Arkansas State University at Jonesboro. He earned his doctorate in music education from the University of North Texas.
Before coming to ESU he was chair of the music department at Northwest Missouri State University and associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Mississippi.
“I plan to keep the focus on the students and continue to provide leadership that will not only grow the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, but the university as a whole. We have quality and well-trained faculty and I am looking forward to finding ways ... where they can operate at their greatest potential,” Brown said.
He added: “Dean Sobeski did that for years and years. I have big shoes to fill.”
In his spare time Brown plans to hang out in Bluestem (Farm and Ranch Supply).
“Have you been in there? It is such a neat store,” he said.
Brown is awaiting the arrival of his wife. He has two daughters; one is a Spanish teacher in Memphis and the other is a sophomore music major at the University of Mississippi.