Jul 28, 2026
Brenda Brown elected president of CHP Staff Advisory Council
Brenda Brown, program manager for the VCU Department of Patient Counseling, has been elected president of the College of Health Professions (CHP) Staff Advisory Council. The honor marks a leadership milestone for both the council and the department she has served for more than a decade.
Brown has spent her VCU tenure within Patient Counseling, where she provides administrative leadership across faculty support, admissions, student services and departmental operations. That role – often making her the first point of contact for prospective students and staff – has shaped a leadership approach she now brings to the entire college.
“My leadership style comes out of wanting people to feel that they belong,” Brown said. “When they connect with me, I am a person who listens and someone who is a resource.”
The Staff Advisory Council, formed in 2022, aims to ensure staff voices across the college are heard, represented and supported. The council has grown to include about 15 to 20 regular participants and has helped secure professional development funding as a recurring budget line, among other initiatives.
As president through the end of 2026, Brown is focused on increasing staff engagement across the college and the broader university, especially through events and community partnerships. She is particularly motivated by the council’s role in welcoming new staff members and ensuring they feel supported from day one.
“Every time there's a new staff person that is hired at CHP, we have a welcoming committee,” she said. “We want those folks to know, ‘Hey, you're here, and you already have support.’”
Brown credits the encouragement of her department and its leadership – including the Rev. Marilyn J.D. Barnes, MS, MA, MPH, chair of the Department of Patient Counseling – for enabling her to take on the role. Looking ahead, she hopes her presidency will inspire others to step into leadership and sustain the council’s momentum.
“I’m really eager to increase interest in the council,” Brown said, “and I’m hoping that the momentum that we have gained will continue in the coming years.”