Athletic Academic Mentor

Andrea Brown enters his first year serving as the academic mentor for the Johnson County Community College athletics department.  Previously, she was an advisor/tutor/counselor in the Academic Achievement Center at JCCC. 

“As an educator, advisor, administrator, entrepreneur and creative individual, Andrea feels at home engaging with diverse communities, the underserved and those that need a helping hand to get back on track,” said JCCC Athletics Director Tony Tompkins. “Her interests lie in giving support, educating, providing outreach, and advocating to make change possible. Ultimately, her goal is to help build confidence, and to teach problem-solving and empowerment skills.” 

Brown’s roots began in the northeast (Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York), where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Rhode Island School of Design, then her Master of Science degree in Education, Guidance and Counseling from Brooklyn College.  Brown spent many years teaching in the New York City private/parochial/public school arena. During those years, she gained extensive experience working with very diverse student bodies and their families. 

Brown’s other career highlights:

• Studied French and fine arts in Aix-en-Provence, France. While living there, she taught English as a second language at a business college and private schools.

• Worked as the Arts in Education Coordinator working with 15 school districts in Sullivan County, New York. She also ran a gallery and artist collective, and co-founded a food co-op.

• Taught English and Student Success/College Success as an adjunct for the State University of New York colleges in the upstate New York area.

• Counseled inmates as the Transition Advocate at the Sullivan County, New York Jail. She helped inmates who struggled with addiction, mental health, and the lack of housing, schooling and jobs upon their release.

• Owner of a residential gardening business, Teacher with Trowel in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Throughout her live, Brown has always been a fan of recreational sports. Having learned to ski at the age of five, she enjoyed the winters in the northeast skiing, snowshoeing and ice skating. During her summers she was a gymnast, technical rock climber, competitive swimmer and dancer of ballet and jazz improvisation. Today, Brown loves to be outdoors biking, hiking, working out and gardening. 

Brown and her husband, Jeff, reside in Lawrence, Kan., with their cat Soleil.