Pearson Brown joined the Office of System Affairs as the Director of System Strategy and Operations in June 2026. Dr. Brown supports the USC System’s eight institutions and their 60,000+ students through leading cross-institution coordination efforts, supporting system-wide initiatives, and producing system-level reports.

Prior to starting with the USC System, Dr. Brown was a Research Associate at the University System of Georgia where he conducted research and policy analysis that examined the ranging facets of students’ higher education journeys. He has presented at regional and national conferences and completed a state policy internship with the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO). He also worked in Student Affairs at Auburn University and uses that experience to ensure student success remains at the forefront of his efforts.

Dr. Brown holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Baylor University and received a Master of Education and a Ph.D. in Higher Education, both from the University of Georgia.