Skip to main content
Pictured is Josie Brown. Submitted photo.

Dean, School of Arts and Sciences

Acting Chair, Department of Criminal Justice and Intelligence Studies

 

Contact Information

Education

  • Bachelor of Arts, English and African American Studies, Bates College
  • Master of Arts, English Queens College, CUNY
  • Doctor of Philosophy, English Literature and Culture, SUNY at Stony Brook

Certificates

  • Cultural Studies Certificate, SUNY at Stony Brook

Background

Josie Brown, Ph.D., is a first-generation student, immigrant and lifelong learner who is committed to helping college students achieve success both inside and outside the classroom. Prior to joining Point Park University as the first dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, she served as interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and director of study abroad at Western New England University. Prior to joining the Western New England community, she served as a post-doctorate associate at Stony Brook University. Her areas of academic concentration include African American literature, Caribbean literature, and Postcolonial theory and literature. She strives to live, work and dream in a world that supports diversity and the cultivation of a pluralistic society.

Curriculum Vitae

 

Be Exploratory at Point Park

In the video below, Dr. Brown shares how students who have not yet chosen a major receive support to help guide them toward the academic path that best suits their interests and goals.

 

Research Interests

  • Literature of the African diaspora/migratory subjects
  • Afrofuturism

Selected Publications

  • A Safe Space: Speculative Fiction & The Black Imagination. Work in progress.
  • Critical Nostalgia & Caribbean Migration. Peter Lang Publishing, 2009.
  • “Clotel.” Students Companion to American Literary Characters. SC: Manly, Inc., 2008.
  • “Sophie Caco.” Students Companion to American Literary Characters. SC: Manly, Inc., 2008.
  • “The Civil Rights Movement.” Encyclopedia of Africa and the Americas. ABC-CLIO, INC., Forthcoming, 2008.
  • “The Black Power Movement.” Encyclopedia of Africa and the Americas. ABC-CLIO, INC., 2008.
  • “Nanny.” Encyclopedia of Africa and the Americas. ABC-CLIO, INC., 2008.
  • “Jewelle Gomez.” The Greenwood Encyclopedia of African American Women Writers. Greenwood Press, 2007.
  • “Black Feminism.” Writing African American Women An Encyclopedia by and about Women of Color. CT: Greenwood Press, 2006.
  • “Home.” Writing African American Women An Encyclopedia by and about Women of Color. CT: Greenwood Press, 2006.
  • “Claude McKay.” Writing African American Women An Encyclopedia by and about Women of Color. CT: Greenwood Press, 2006.

Selected Presentations

  • “Female Leadership Panel.” Women’s Empowerment Institute. Crompond, N.Y. March 28, 2022.
  • “Leadership as a Female.” Women’s Empowerment Institute. Crompond, N.Y. Sept. 7, 2021.
  • “Breaking the Glass Ceiling with Women.” Women’s Empowerment Institute. Crompond, N.Y. Sept. 25, 2020.
  • “I am graduating…now what.” Unity Fest: Leadership Conference — “Embracing Your Potential.” Western New England University. Springfield, Mass. Feb. 7, 2015.
  • “Technical Writing in STEM.” Central High School, Springfield, Mass. Aug. 2014.
  • ­­­­­“Critical Nostalgia and Caribbean Migration.”  D’Amour Athenaeum Series. Nov. 2009.
  • “Memory and Representation in Zadie Smith’s On Beauty.” PCA/ACA 37th Annual Conference. Boston, Mass. April 4–7, 2007.
  • “Memory & Representation II: Memory & Cultural Representations of Blackness.” PCA/ACA 37th Annual Conference. Boston, Mass. April 4–7, 2007.
  • “The Personal is Political”: Jewelle Gomez’ The Gilda Stories." National Association of African American Studies. Baton Rouge, La. Feb. 13–18, 2006.
  • “Reproduction: The Vagina Monologues” Western New England College. Feb. 16, 2006. Member of the expert panel, participating in post-production discussion of the issues in the Vagina Monologues.
  • "Subverting Political Agendas; Black Women's Writings and Strategies of Sedition.” National Association of African American Studies. Baton Rouge, La. Feb. 13–18, 2006.
  • “Zadie Smith’s On Beauty.” D’Amour Library Athenaeum Series. Western New England College. April 11, 2006.
  • Demonizing Beloved: Toni Morrison’s Historical Novel and Oprah Winfrey’s Horror Movie.” African Literature Association Conference. University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, Co., April 6–10, 2005.
  • Revising the Written Word: The “Black” Canon and The American Film Industry.” African Literature Association Conference. University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, Co., April 6–10, 2005.
  • “Literature and Cultural Transgressions: The Creation of a Demon.” Western New England College. April 21, 2005.
  • “Redefining Blackness; The Caribbean Experience in America” MELUS, San Antonio, Texas, March 11–13, 2004.
  • “Home as the Heart of Post-Colonial Criticism in the works of Jamaica Kincaid.” NEMLA, Pittsburgh, Pa., March 4–6, 2004.
  • “Re-visioning Halle Berry or How Hollywood has Reshaped the Tragic Mulatto.” ALA Annual Conference, Madison Wis., April 15–19, 2004.
  • “Deconstructing the Harlem Renaissance: A Reevaluation of Contemporary Authors." Harlem Renaissance Conference. Rhode Island College, Providence, RI, May 7–8, 2004. 
  • “Claude McKay and a Transnational Harlem.” Harlem Renaissance Conference. Rhode Island College, Providence, R.I., May 7–8, 2004.
  • “Racenicity: The Whitewashing of Ethnicity.” The Graduate School Colloquium Series: A Talk/Round Table Discussion. SUNY Stony Brook, April 19, 2002.
  • “(Re)determining Racial Boundaries in Jean Rhys’ Wide Sargasso Sea." Secrets and Confessions: 13th Annual Interdisciplinary Conference. State University of New York at Stony Brook, Feb. 16–17, 2001.
  •  “The Sea Is Slavery: Redefining the Black Atlantic.” Rethinking African Diasporic Literature. Africana Studies Conference, SUNY Stony Brook, Oct. 11–13, 2001.
  • “African European Literature Panel” at Rethinking African Diasporic Literature. African Studies Conference, SUNY Stony Brook, Oct. 11–13, 2001.
  •  “Defining Race and Identity in Claude McKay’s Home to Harlem.” Caribbean Literary Studies Conference 2000. University of Miami, Sept. 27–30, 2000.

Honors

  • Awardee, African American Female Professor Award, Western Massachusetts, 2019
  • Nominated, African American Female Professor Award, Western Massachusetts, 2018
  • Western New England Golden Bear Award, 2015
  • University Learning Communities Teaching Fellow, 2001–2002
  • Burghardt Turner Fellowship, SUNY Stony Brook, 1998–2002
  • Teaching Assistantship & Tuition Scholarship, SUNY Stony Brook, 1998–2002
  • Honors in English, Bates College, 1994
  • Bates College Key Club, Bates College, 1994
  • Benjamin Mays Scholar, Bates College, 1990–1994

Professional Affiliations

  • African Literature Association
  • Modern Language Association of America
  • MELUS (Multi-Ethnic Literature of the United States)
  • North East Modern Language Association

In the News

Point Park Features