CHATTANOOGA—Dr. Richard Brown, who provided more than 38 years of service to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and the University of Tennessee System, is the namesake of the new Richard Brown Inclusive Access Scholarship at UTC.
The scholarship—a collaboration of the Division of Diversity and Engagement, the Division of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs in conjunction with the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships—commemorates the contributions of Brown, who began working for the University in 1984 and rose to executive vice chancellor for administration and finance. He then took on a dual role in 2021 as a special advisor to UTC Chancellor Steven R. Angle and UT System President Randy Boyd before retiring at the end of the year.
“Richard Brown invested decades of his life helping to build UTC into the university we are all proud of. He worked his way up through the ranks to one of the top jobs on campus,” Angle said. “During those years, he was a tireless advocate for excellence and inclusion, and he has mentored countless students and employees and been a role model for many others. These scholarships are a fitting tribute for Richard’s impact here at UTC.”
During the 2022-2023 academic year, 30 UTC students from the Chattanooga region are benefiting from this new scholarship. The students come to UTC from the following Hamilton County high schools: Brainerd, East Ridge, Hixson, The Howard School, Red Bank and Tyner Academy.
Brown confessed to being flattered when he was told about a new scholarship program named after him.
“My first reaction to it was that I was humbled and honored to have such a prestigious honor and recognition by the University, but after that, I was really excited about it,” he said. “This will create an opportunity for access to some students who are underserved by access to higher education.
“Fundamentally, I believe that access to higher education transforms lives for many, many years and generations to come.”
Stacy Lightfoot, vice chancellor for the UTC Division of Diversity and Engagement, said Brown was involved in drafting some of the philosophies for the scholarship, suggesting ideas for who the award should be geared toward.
“He helped create some of the criteria,” Lightfoot said. “When I talked to him about this, he was touched and added to the criteria. He said, ‘Make sure you think about the adult learner. Make sure you think about the veteran student.’
“So he owns some of this process. This isn’t just an award in his honor; this is an award that he helped create. I think that’s what makes this special as well.”
During his time at UTC, Brown was a pillar of the campus community, serving as a member of the executive leadership team under five chancellors and playing a vital role in the expansion of the campus across McCallie Avenue.
As a result of crossing McCallie, UTC South Campus housing came into existence in the late 1990s, fostering the growth and upward trajectory of the University.