Bridging the Gap Toward Success

Story by: Voleer Thomas

Dr. Naima Brown’s love for teaching has opened doors in her life to make an impact on those around her.

Brown grew up in north Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in a housing project with a single-parent mother. The power of education was instilled in her from childhood. “From first grade through eighth grade, we did not participate in the neighborhood school system,” Brown said.

Brown’s mother made sure her and her sister were at the bus stop by 6:30 a.m. to go to a magnet school called Fitler Academics Plus School. “I think that helped me to pursue college because the school focused on going to college even at that young age, which is something that my peers in the neighborhood didn’t have.”

Brown said that they were teased for catching the school bus every day to go to school because everybody else in the neighborhood walked around the corner to go to school.

Brown’s love for education and teaching brought her to Florida in 1990 to pursue a degree at Florida A&M University as a first-generation college student. When she made her decision, she said, “College would be a route to get me to where I wanted to be—Florida.”

Brown received a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Florida A & M University in 1995 and a Master’s degree in Sociology from the University of Florida in 1997. Five years later, she earned a Doctoral degree in Sociology from the University of Florida.

Brown appreciates her mother for being the driving force to pursue her collegiate endeavors. “She has always been a big proponent for education,” Brown said. “That is why it’s so important for me to help students because I know that potential lies in every single person and you just got to remove barriers to help them.”

Brown started teaching sociology at Santa Fe College full-time in 2000. “As a faculty member, I love connecting with the students,” Brown said. “Interacting with them, engaging with them, sharing resources, and helping them to make the college experience relevant to their lives and where they were going.”

Brown has traveled to Africa, Europe, South America, Asia, and the Middle East. “I love teaching,” Brown said. “I developed really strong relationships with my students. I loved studying abroad. I lead trips around the world for the college. I helped to establish relationships with other institutions on behalf of the college.”

Brown loved sociology because the study of how the social world impacts individual attitudes and behaviors intrigued her. The president of the college was fascinated by her ambition and her passion to make sure students get the best experience college has to offer.

He asked if she could serve as the interim Vice President of Student Affairs. Brown turned down the offer twice and wanted to remain a teacher at the college.

“I’m a teacher,” Brown said. “This is my strength. This is my skill. This is what I do.” The president insisted and asked, “How many students do you impact in a year?” “About 500,” Brown responded. And he said, “What if you could impact 18,000? Think about that.” Brown remembered all the things she did not know about but had learned along the way, such as graduate school and studying abroad. She decided to embark on a new journey in her life and became the VP of Student Affairs in 2013.

Brown has learned a few lessons ever since that transition. “Meet people where they are,” she said. “Realizing that some people are bringing a past with them like I took.” Brown remembered how her father was murdered in a drug-related incident two days after she turned 17 and shared how trauma can affect people.

“[I know] that type of trauma and what it does to a person,” Brown said. “I know that people come to college because they want something better and we just have to meet them where they are and be that bridge to get them to where they’re going.” One of Brown’s strategies for success is her faith and putting God first.

“Every single day I pray that God use me for his glory,” Brown said. “God is everything. I admit that I am nothing without God, I can do nothing without God. I look at my life, it’s not me--it was God.”

Brown also said that treating people with dignity and respect will get you further in life. “Treat everybody right,” She said. “Don’t look down on anybody. It’s not what you say but how you say it.”

Another tip is to always have an inquiring mind and to do the research. “Trust but verify,” Brown said. “Listen to people but verify on your own and do your research. Don’t just believe anything.” Brown said she misses teaching but she enjoys making an impact on students’ lives outside of the classroom.

“I love activating people,” she said. “I like to make material relevant to life. I think that’s a strength that I have. I can take what I read and I can bring it to life and I can help you apply it and understand it in different ways.”