Drawing upon an early interest in helping others, particularly with the fields of public health and biology, Dr. James William Brown pursued a formal education at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Receiving a Bachelor of Arts in microbiology in 1975, he subsequently earned a Doctor of Philosophy in microbiology in 1986. That same year, he received a Master of Science in microbiology from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. He commenced his career in 1988, in which he served as director of microbiology for Roche Biomedical Laboratories for six years. During this time, Dr. Brown received an additional Master of Science in health sciences from New Jersey City University in 1992.
As his career progressed, Dr. Brown became the assistant commissioner of health for the New Jersey Department of Health in 1995, serving in that role until 1997. Congruent to this role, he was also the vice president of Celsis from 1996 to 1999. Dr. Brown joined New Jersey City University in 1998, where he thrived as an assistant dean and assistant professor until 2003. Following this tenure, he was the dean of science, engineering, health sciences and human performance and an associate professor at Ocean County College for the subsequent decade. Dr. Brown served as a part-time online professor at Gwynedd Mercy University from 2014 to 2017 and California State University, San Marcos from 2015 to 2017. Since 2012, he has excelled as a part-time online professor and microbiologist for the City University of New York.
Certified as a master presenter by the University of Texas at Austin, Dr. Brown has engaged civically in a myriad of organizations. The current commissioner of the Wesley Lake Commission, he has also been a board member and volunteer for the Neptune Township Zoning Board of Adjustment, an executive board member and past president of the New Jersey Public Health Association, and a former board member of the American Public Health Association. In addition, Dr. Brown has served as an advocate for the homeless population for the Jersey Shore Rescue Mission and is a past Scoutmaster for Troop 531 of the Boy Scouts of America.
In 2021, Dr. Brown was designated as One of the Top 40 Innovators in Education by the Center for Digital Education. Other accolades to his credit also include the 2006 and 2012 President’s Award, the 2009 Adoptive Family of the Year Award, and the 1998 Business and Education Leadership Award. Furthermore, he was named an honorary citizen of the State of Oklahoma and was recognized among the Ten Most Outstanding Young Citizens of New Jersey, as well as received Citations from the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey and the U.S. House of Representatives. Most notably, Dr. Brown earned a Resolution of Recognition for meritorious record of service, leadership and commitment by the State and General Assembly of New Jersey.
