Dr. Heather A. Brown holds a Bachelor of Arts from Lake Forest College and a Master of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School – both focused on women’s studies in religion. She earned a Doctorate of Education in adult and higher education with a graduate certificate in women’s and gender studies from Northern Illinois University. Heather’s research focuses on improving academic outcomes in under-served and stigmatized populations, with a specific focus on exploring the connections between weight and learning in women.
Heather began her career working for community-based organizations serving immigrants and refugees, particularly women and young people. She then worked in higher education administration with a focus on research development and grant writing. Heather also served as Executive Director of the Women + Girls Research Alliance at University of North Carolina Charlotte for several years, a position for which she received the 2018 Women’s Center Committee Emerging Leader Award from the National Women’s Studies Association.
In her free time, Heather enjoys gardening, writing poetry, cooking, and spending time with her partner and their pets.
