Several of the long-time colleagues of J.J. Brown, associate dean of students, cannot remember a time when Brown was not at the university.
And yet that time will soon come.
Thursday morning Brown accepted the position of associate vice chancellor and dean of students at Appalachian State University.
He anticipates his last day at UT to be in mid-May, with his first day at ASU being in the first week of June.
Brown started as an undergraduate student at UT in 1989. He went on to work in the dean of students office in 1993, attend graduate school in 1994-1995 and serve as the director of orientation for a stint beginning in 1995 and then later in 1997.
He became associate dean of students beginning in August 2001.
When he and his family move to Boone, N.C., the home of ASU, in June, it will be the first time Brown will be away from UT in over two decades. He said the experience will be different.
“It’s going to be very strange,” Brown said. “I don’t know if it’s fully set in, in the last 12 hours since I accepted.”
He said the new position offers a new opportunity, yet another in a long line of opportunities his career has afforded him.
“Certainly it’s bittersweet,” Brown said. “(I’ve) been here at the University of Tennessee for a long time. It’s a special, dear place for me. (I’ve) worked with outstanding faculty, staff, but for me, the best part is working with our students. It’s a new opportunity, a new chapter, to kind of start again.”
He said a major factor in choosing to go to ASU was the community it offered, which Brown felt was a good match for him and his family.
“Certainly as I explored more, I really learned that Appalachians really care about students,” he said. “Students are a major focus and priority for them, and that really made me more intrigued. It just felt right, and I came to the University of Tennessee in 1989 because it felt right. Appalachian feels right at this point in time. But it’s going to be hard.”
Over his tenure at UT, Brown said there were many accomplishments and projects that he looks back on fondly, principal among them the partnership with student government over the last 12 years.
More specifically, he said he loved the chance to get to see results when communicating with students years after their time at UT.
“(Students) struggle, perhaps, or evolve, and they learn and grow,” Brown said. “And they graduate. And they go off and do amazing things in the real world. ... And hearing them talk about their experiences here in Knoxville as a Tennessee Volunteer and how that translated them for success down the road, to me, that’s the best thing we do. That’s the beauty of what you do. And planting those seeds and planting that level of encouragement for folks to go out and do whatever it is they want to do.”
Tim Rogers, vice chancellor for student affairs, said Brown is “more than just an employee.”
“He’s the embodiment of an impeccable character and an exemplary work ethic,” Rogers said.
Rogers lauded Brown for his communicative ability at all levels of university life — with students, faculty and staff.
“He has the unique ability to work at every level and engage at every level,” Rogers said. “Students need a very positive influence, and he understands student development theory, and also in addition to theory, he is absolutely incredible in terms of application of theory in a professional environment.”
Former Student Services Director Jamie Lonie said at the SGA transition on Thursday that he became comfortable talking to Brown quickly after first meeting him because of how personable he was.
Brown said he simply tries to be authentic with students.
“The thing that I try to always do is just be me,” he said. “What you see is what you get. That’s what I try, even when I interviewed with Appalachian last week, I wanted them to see me for who I am. I wanted them to call me J.J., and that’s my style.”
“I love working with students,” he said. “They keep me young.”
Steve Catlett, associate vice chancellor for alumni affairs, is one of those who can’t remember not knowing Brown.
“It’s kind of like losing a family member, one of those good guys who does things right,” Catlett said.
Mary Holtman-Reed, director of alumni programs, said Brown is a “great sounding board” for ideas, and his replacement “has big shoes to fill.”
Catlett was saddened by Brown leaving but encouraged him in his new career path.
“It’s going to be a big loss,” Catlett said. “Appalachian State is fortunate to have him. We’re happy for him and his family to have that opportunity but sad for the UT community. ... But he’ll always have orange blood though.”
Brown agreed about always having orange blood.
“Certainly as an alumnus, I’ll always be a Vol,” Brown said. “That’s a special thing in and of itself.”