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KALAMAZOO—Dr. Janice M. Brown, executive director of the Kalamazoo Promise and former superintendent of Kalamazoo Public Schools, will give an update on the Kalamazoo Promise later this month at Western ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§ University.

Brown will speak at 8 a.m. Friday, Oct. 26, in the Dean's Conference Room, 2150 Schneider Hall. Her talk is part of the Keystone Community Bank Breakfast Speaker Series, and the presentation is titled "The Kalamazoo Promise … So What's the New York Times Talking About Anyway?"

The event is free and open to the public and begins with breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (269) 387-6059. Free parking is available in the Fetzer Center parking lot.

Janice Brown

As Kalamazoo Promise executive director since 2008, Brown serves as the spokesperson for the college tuition-funding program and works closely with Kalamazoo Public Schools and other organizations in the Kalamazoo region. Brown has appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today and on the Katie Couric Show, ABC, The Today Show and Good Morning America on behalf of the Kalamazoo Promise.

Brown, who served as superintendent of Kalamazoo Public Schools from 2000 to 2007, has more than 36 years of experience in public education, including positions as teacher, consultant, principal and district administrator. She has won several awards, including the Athena Award, a Women of Achievement award and the Glass Ceiling award, given to women who demonstrate outstanding leadership. She recently won the ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§ State University Crystal Apple Award.

Brown serves on the boards of a number of Kalamazoo-area organizations, such as The Learning Network of Greater Kalamazoo, Communities in Schools-Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, The Gilmore, Air Zoo, Southwest ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§ Innovation Center, Community Healing Centers and WMU advisory committees.

Keystone speaker series

The Keystone Community Bank Breakfast Speaker Series provides an opportunity for the local community to hear top business leaders and WMU faculty, alumni and friends of the Haworth College of Business discuss current topics of interest to the community.

For more information, contact the Haworth College of Business at (269) 387-5050.