My Interest in ASCN: Pamela Brown

CUNY New York City College of Technology
Office of the Provost/Chemistry Dept.
Associate Provost

Prior Organizational Change Work

As dean of the School of Arts and Sciences and Associate Provost, I have changed the college culture by institutionalizing undergraduate research, as described in the last question. I also help launch READ - Reading Effectively Across the Disciplines - to provide faculty development and support for faculty to intentionally improve student reading comprehension in the disciplines. I have also supported proposal writing teams. Funded proposals are helping to slowly change math instruction and other student support programs

How ASCN Can Contribute to my Work

Learning more about successful, evidence-based practices at other institutions will provide ideas for improvements at my own campus, a branch of the City University of New York (CUNY). Changes at one of the 21-branches of CUNY often lead to change at other campuses.

How I Can Contribute to ASCN

I developed a sustained undergraduate research program at my campus that includes student professional development and has benefited over 1000 students. Longitudinal studies demonstrate increased retention, GPA and graduation rates compared to a control group. I served on the National Academies of Sciences committee that prepared the soon-to-be-released consensus paper "Barriers and Opportunities for 2-Year and 4-Year STEM Degrees: Systemic Change to Support Students' Diverse Pathways" and also served as a Program Officer at the National Science Foundation Division of Undergraduate Education. I thus have a background in and have made contributions to promoting change at a national level.