Norman A. Brown, whose career experience is in promoting development in Third World countries, will make a variety of public presentations at Hope College as a Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellow during the week of April 2.
The events include a keynote lecture and four open classes or open meetings. Admission is free.
On Monday, April 2, at 3 p.m., Brown will discuss volunteer and career opportunities in international non-profit organizations. The event will be held in the Fried Center, located along the former 12th Street between College and Columbia avenues, and is coordinated by the offices of international education and career services at Hope.
During an "open class" on Tuesday, April 3, at 9:30 a.m., he will discuss ethical issues in natural resource management. The presentation will be for the college's "Earth and Ethics" Senior Seminar and held in room 109A of Lubbers Hall, located at 126 E. 10th St.
On Tuesday, April 3, at 1:30 p.m. he will discuss the role of women in Third World development. The presentation will be during the college's "Introduction to Women's Studies" class, held in room 221 of the Peale Science Center, located on College Avenue at 12th Street.
On Tuesday, April 3, at 7 p.m., he will discuss the Third World and environmental protection. The event will be held in room 109B of Lubbers Hall, and is sponsored by the college's Environmental Issues Group.
Brown will deliver his keynote talk, "Opportunities and Empowerment for People in the Third World," on Thursday, April 5, at 11 a.m. in room 102 of VanderWerf Hall. VanderWerf Hall is located on Graves Place (11th Street) between Central and College avenues.
Brown recently completed a term as president and chief executive officer of Partners of the Americas. Founded in 1964, Partners of the Americas is a non-profit/non-government organization that coordinates assistance projects between the United States and Latin America and the Caribbean. The projects have included civic education, health care, natural resource management and more.
From 1995 to 1999, he was president of Norm Brown and Associates, serving as a consultant to non-profits and foundations. In 1995, he retired as president and chief operating officer of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, where he had held a variety of senior administrative positions since 1984.
From 1980 to 1984, he was dean of the Minnesota Extension Service at the University of Minnesota, where he was also a professor. He had previously been at Michigan State University, where his responsibilities included directing the Cooperative Extension Service and directing 4-H youth programs.
Brown's other related experiences include serving the U.S. Peace Corps as director of the Philippines Intern Program from 1970 to 1972. During 1959-60, he was a rural youth specialist with the U.S. Department of State, working in Japan, Thailand, the Philippines, Taiwan and Guam.
He holds bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from Michigan State University, which presented him with its Distinguished Alumni Award in 1995. His numerous other honors also include being named an honorary life member of the South Africa Institute of Race Relations in 1994, and receiving an honorary doctor of laws degree from the University of Natal in Durban South Africa.
Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellows help connect a liberal education with the world beyond the campus by bringing thoughtful and successful practitioners to colleges for a week of classes and informal discussions with students and faculty.
Fellows, who include government officials, business leaders, journalists, environmentalists and medical ethicists, are matched with small colleges chosen for their commitment to the goals of the program. Together, they attempt to help equip students for the social, political and economic settings they will enter and illuminate the roles they may play as professionals and informed citizens.
Fellows are scheduled for formal presentations in classrooms, panels and public platforms, and informal encounters at meals and in student centers, clubs, residence halls, career counseling and individual sessions. The week-long visit allows Fellows to explicate their ideas fully and often leads to continuing ties.
The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation has developed and conducted programs in higher education since 1945. More than 200 colleges have participated in the Visiting Fellows program since 1973.