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A Letter to Alumni from Kevin Brown

Globe Sculpture
Kevin Brown


Kevin Brown is Chief Diversity Officer at SAU — and he has a special message for SAU alumni! Read on to learn more about who Kevin is and the unique role he plays in bringing members of the SAU community together through ethnic and racial inclusivity.

Hello from Spring Arbor!
My name is Kevin Brown, and I am pleased and honored to serve as the Chief Diversity Officer here at Spring Arbor University. The creation of the Chief Diversity Officer position is a result of SAU’s ongoing commitment to ensure that SAU attracts, retains and graduates a diverse body of students. SAU established the Diversity Task Force in early 2016 to formalize existing diversity efforts. The task force was instrumental in the formation of the University Diversity Plan and the formation of the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council. As the plan became actionable, leadership was critical to the success of these initiatives.

SAU provides a welcoming environment for our students. Our son, Joshua Riddick ’16, benefitted from the SAU environment and continues to make an impact on this world in part because of his time at SAU. This confirmed my decision to come to work at SAU in February 2016 as the Senior Director of Admissions. In April 2018, President Ellis announced my appointment as Chief Diversity Officer. I was serving as Special Assistant to the President for Diversity throughout the 2017-18 academic year. I am excited to now lead the Office for Institutional Diversity, and provide strategic oversight and direction to the Office of Intercultural Relations.

I have been blessed to have served in similar roles for Albion College, Kenyon College and DePauw University. I have provided leadership as Executive Director of the Minority Health Partnership of Calhoun County, served in executive leadership roles for the Cleveland Municipal School District and was the Director of the Young African-American Males program for the Center for Families and Children. God has blessed me with this opportunity and shown favor on me since birth, and working at SAU as Chief Diversity Officer is the perfect synthesis of my educational background, personal mission and work experience.

We are a community of learners committed to reflecting the Kingdom of God in the diversity of our students, faculty, staff, administrators and trustees. Valuing the dignity of every human being is part of the historic legacy of our founding denomination. Our continued focus on creating a diverse learning environment reflects these values and honors our heritage. We are committed to being a place where ethnic and racial inclusivity is a hallmark of our community. However, as an imperfect human organization, we must acknowledge and plan for the challenge such diversity brings. We boldly embrace this challenge, because as Christians, we know it is right.

I am excited to help build God’s kingdom here at SAU. I invite you to join me in this very important work. I want to partner with you as alumni to make SAU a better place. I hope to see you when you return for Homecoming or a campus visit for your children.

Please feel free to contact me with ideas or concerns. I look forward to our work together!

Blessings,
Kevin Brown