Michigan State University College of Education academic advisor Jean Brown recently received the 2011 Outstanding Faculty & Staff Award from the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities. Brown was recognized for her extraordinary efforts to promote equal opportunity and educational achievement for MSU students.
The award is typically granted to a faculty or staff member who has been nominated by an MSU student with a disability. In Brown’s case, the nomination came from special education major Ashley Maloff, who confided in Brown when experiencing negative symptoms of her epilepsy.
“I nominated her based on my initial interactions in disclosing my disability to Jean, and because I believe that Jean is someone who sees me for who I am and what I can become, not simply a health condition or a disability,” Maloff said. “She is someone who believes in me and that I can be successful here.”
Before becoming an academic advisor, Brown received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education and psychology, and her master’s degree in curriculum and teaching. She has further demonstrated her commitment to education by working as an elementary school teacher and MSU field instructor.
“Her work as an academic advisor helps pre-service special education teachers become the best prepared special educators that they can be,” Maloff said. “Her work has left a huge impact on not only MSU students, but the field of special education as well.”