Staff Nurse of Mary S. Shook Student Health Services, Kevin Long, checks his patient’s vital signs at the facility’s After Hours Clinic on Monday. Photo by Zack Wilson | The Appalachian

“When a family has a tragedy or something that has impacted them, they don’t need to worry about talking to ten different people,” Brown said. “It helps them to have one contact person, so I can then help them figure out what we need to do or how we can move forward.”

In addition to working directly with the parent-family services department, Brown will also serve as the point-man for the departments of student conduct, off-campus community relations, multi-cultural student development and the student legal clinic.

Along with his facilitator role for these five departments, Brown will also serve on the university safety council, as well as work to help students in times of personal distress.

“Because I’m the new guy, I just have to listen and learn to get to know students’ concerns and issues,” Brown said. “I care about students and definitely want to hear about what they’re doing and what sorts of problems they’re having.”

Former Dean of Students Susie L. Greene was responsible for working directly with students, as Brown does now.

However, Greene was not directly in charge of the five departments mentioned above.

“We’ve done some restructuring within the student development department,” Wallace said.

Prior to this year, parent-family services, student conduct, off-campus community relations, multi-cultural student development and the student legal clinic reported to Wallace.

“I’m excited to be here and to have the opportunity to fulfill these responsibilities, but I’m also excited that the community and Appalachian are so intricately connected,” Brown said.

“There’s that spirit that exudes all throughout the town and the campus.”

Story: JULIANNE OLSON, Senior News Reporter
Photo: ZACK WILSON, Intern Photographer