If you searched John and Rosemary Brown in Google, you would find a Forbes list ranking, the John and Rosemary Brown Family Foundation, and information about the philanthropy efforts of the couple.
In January of 2020, Mr. and Mrs. Brown donated $10 million to name the Keeping Sights Upward (KSU) Journey Honors College at Kennesaw State University. Their gift, along with $5 million from the Kennesaw State University Foundation, provides a 150% matching incentive for donors to establish scholarship endowments.
Mr. and Mrs. Brown did not always have the ability to make such a generous donation, but with their hard work, determination, and generous hearts, they were able to make the largest gift in Kennesaw State's history. Growing up on a farm in West Tennessee, the value of hard work was ingrained in Mr. Brown from the very beginning. "Farming is a noble cause, but it's seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day and you are never caught up," said Mr. Brown. This experience inspired Mr. Brown to take a different path and pursue chemical engineering at Auburn University.
Mrs. Brown was an intellectually curious young lady from Glasgow, Kentucky, who became interested in chemistry after, "[she] had a really wonderful high school teacher and [her] sister majored in chemistry," Mrs. Brown said. She also pursued higher education to obtain a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Auburn University. During her time at the institution, she tutored students in mathematics, which allowed her to discover her passion for teaching. She later returned to school and received a Master's in Math Education from Rutgers University.
Mr. and Mrs. Brown met one another in their freshman math class and married upon Mrs. Brown's graduation in 1957. Mr. Brown's graduation followed just two quarters later, and the two began traveling the east coast as Mr. Brown's career progressed. He began as a chemical engineer at ORMET, a company that removed aluminum from bauxite ore. As Mr. Brown gained experience as an engineer, he began to work on more complex projects such as making solid rocket propellant and even penicillin. The hard work Mr. Brown consistently displayed since growing up in West Tennessee was eventually noticed by his boss at Squibb, who also recognized Mr. Brown's potential for management. This presented the opportunity for the presidency at Edward Weck & Sons, which was a hand-held surgical instrument company. Eventually, Mr. Brown became president of Stryker Corporation, one of the world's leading medical technology companies. During his 32 years at the company, Mr. Brown grew the company's sales from $17 million dollars to a staggering $4.5 billion dollars.
Meanwhile, with each new destination, Mrs. Brown would teach in the local high schools. She was able to influence and impact thousands of students during her time as a high school teacher. Reflecting on her career, Mrs. Brown said, "One of my students said they learned from me, 'it's nice to be important but, it's more important to be nice."
Today, Mr. and Mrs. Brown are both retired from their respective positions and currently reside in Atlanta, Georgia. In fact, it was in their current residential building that Mrs. Brown met a neighbor, Mrs. Robin Shore, who introduced her to the Kennesaw State Honors College Advisory Council. Impressed by the mission of the council, Mrs. Brown was eager to join the cause and make a difference in the lives of students. Mr. Brown was impressed with the university and its students and said, "It has some noble goals on its agenda and its student body is determined to be leaders and successes."
KSU Journey Honors College is comprised of students from all majors across Kennesaw State's two campuses. Students follow a flexible curriculum, which allows them to choose their Honors Learning Experiences each semester. This method allows students to customize their learning and enhance their portfolio, making them more competitive for graduate school and the job market.
The curriculum is based on the eight Foundations of Honors Learning, which are marketable skills including Critical Thinking, Leadership, Interdisciplinary Learning, Creativity and Innovation, Information Fluency, Professionalism, Appreciation of Diverse Viewpoints, and Effective Communication. Mr. Brown shared a piece of advice for students which was, "Establish a reputation for being honest, hardworking, and smart." This practice aligns with the eight foundations that Honors students are already so familiar with through their path to earning an Honors designation. Effective communication through honesty is at the top of the list for both Mr. and Mrs. Brown. Mr. Brown prioritized honesty in the piece of advice he shared and when asked which of the foundations resonated with Mrs. Brown, who also chose effective communication.
It is not a secret that the KSU Journey Honors College is well-loved by the students, faculty, and other members involved with the college. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are no exception to this affinity for the college. When asked about their generous donation to the college, they shared that they were proud of the program and that they wanted to see it reach the full potential they knew it was capable of, while also positively impacting the lives of students. The Brown family has a deep and abounding legacy that has and will positively impact many lives for years to come.
