ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

 

Deborah BrownName: Deborah Brown

Class: 1994

Regis Major: English

Current Employer:
Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools in Charlotte, NC

 

1. Why did you decide to come to Regis?
I decided to come to Regis because the school was attentive to the details of interpersonal communication during my prospective campus visit. I felt valued, and for an 18-year-old girl who didn't know much else outside of my hometown, that meant a great deal to me.

2. How did your experiences and your education at Regis shape your life after college and your career path thus far?
Regis strengthened my voice's foundation. I always had a voice, but being at Regis gave me the courage to use it.

3. Did you have a favorite Regis professor, mentor, or class that really impacted your life or path?
 Dr. Marilyn Young. I became a teacher because of her. Her commitment, guidance, compassion, intelligence, and sense of mission were duly noted by me. She conferenced with me about a paper I had written, and she told me that I should become a teacher. I didn't want to be a teacher—I wanted to be a politician! I majored in Political Science at the start of my first year. I was going to be a politician back in my hometown after graduating from Regis. Every opportunity she had; she spoke to me about being a teacher. "Take an education course. Just one. Think about teaching students. You would make a great teacher, Debbie." It was senior year. I took an Introduction to Secondary Education course with Dr. Young and that class changed the trajectory of my life.

4. What did you learn at Regis that has served you well throughout your life?
Regis was really about testing every limit, and I still try to push myself to achieve my goals and strive for the best. This comes from the empowerment given by Regis and its staff and professors. 

5. What one piece of advice do you have current Regis students?
The person that I am today is the person that was always inside of me. I needed a catalyst to guide me into that reality, and Regis was my catalyst.

6. Tell me about your career and your current job.
I teach English and AP English to juniors and seniors in high school. A day in the life of a teacher involves coaching, counseling, cheering, caring, correcting, and capturing the imagination of children so they will continue to wonder in a world filled with so much worry.

7. What has kept you motivated as a teacher during the COVID-19 pandemic?
I love what I do, and I know this is my life's purpose. There is a responsibility that comes with working with other people's children. They show up. They want to learn. They may "act" like they don't want to learn at certain times, but they do. It's up to me to help them the best way I can. I know that many young faces are depending on me to help them get to their next level of life, and I want to meet their expectations. It's a joy to do what I get to do. I just love it--I feel like I am breathing when I am teaching.

8. If you had to describe Regis in three words, what would they be?
Best. College. Ever

 

 

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