Heather M. Brown, Ph.D.
Phone: (916) 686-7652
Heather.Brown@cnsu.edu
Education and Postdoctoral Training
- Postdoctoral Scholar at Stanford University Medical School
- PhD in Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology at the University of California - Santa Cruz
- BS in Biochemistry at University of California – Davis
About
Heather M. Brown, Ph.D., serves as Assistant Vice President for Strategic Growth and Workforce Development and Professor of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology at California Northstate University. A scientist, educator, and higher education executive, Dr. Brown brings extensive experience in academic leadership, strategic planning, accreditation, student success, workforce development, and cross-sector partnership building.
Since joining California Northstate University in 2015 as a founding member, Dr. Brown has held several leadership roles including Director of Research and Scholarly Projects, Assistant Dean of Faculty Affairs, Dean and Chief Academic Officer of Undergraduate Education for the College of Health Sciences, and her current role as Assistant Vice President. Throughout her tenure, she has led major institutional initiatives focused on academic innovation, faculty development, accreditation, assessment, student success, and organizational growth.
As Dean of the College of Health Sciences, Dr. Brown led the development, accreditation, and launch of multiple academic programs, including the Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and Post-Baccalaureate programs. She also spearheaded development of innovative educational pathways, including the BS-MD and BS-DMD Honors Tracks, university-wide curriculum alignment initiatives, and high-impact learning experiences such as Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs), embedded service-learning opportunities, and curriculum redesign efforts aimed at increasing access and strengthening readiness for graduate and professional education.
In her current role, Dr. Brown leads strategic growth initiatives and partnership development efforts that connect K-12 schools, community colleges, universities, healthcare organizations, industry partners, and community stakeholders. Her work focuses on creating educational systems that expand access, strengthen workforce readiness, support student success, and advance innovation across STEM and healthcare education. She has been instrumental in developing collaborative programs that integrate experiential learning, undergraduate research, mentorship, technology, artificial intelligence, and workforce-responsive educational pathways. Prior to joining CNU, Dr. Brown served as Interim Statewide Dean of Biotechnology for the California Community College Chancellor's Office and Director of the North Valley Biotechnology Center at American River College. In these roles, she led statewide educational initiatives, secured federal and state grant funding, developed transfer and research pathways, and built partnerships among K-12 schools, community colleges, universities, research institutions, and industry partners. Her work helped expand access to undergraduate research, faculty development, STEM career exploration, and student success programs throughout California. Dr. Brown earned a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from the University of California, Davis, a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and completed postdoctoral training at Stanford University School of Medicine, where her research focused on the cellular mechanisms underlying Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease. While her scientific interests center on neurobiology and neurodegenerative disease, her professional passion lies in expanding educational opportunity, fostering innovation, and helping individuals realize their full potential.
A strong advocate for student success and lifelong learning, Dr. Brown is recognized for her collaborative leadership style, strategic vision, and commitment to mentorship. She embraces a philosophy of “Grit and Grace,” believing that meaningful achievement is built through perseverance, purpose, resilience, and compassion. Through her leadership and mentorship, she strives to empower students, faculty, and emerging professionals to navigate challenges with confidence, embrace opportunity, and make lasting contributions to their communities and professions.