Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) has appointed Dr. J. Lee Brown as vice chancellor and chief of staff, effective Monday, Aug. 11.
Brown, a seasoned higher education executive with more than a decade of progressive leadership experience, brings a distinguished record in academic affairs, enrollment management, strategic planning and workforce development.
He will serve as a key member of the chancellor’s cabinet and play a vital role in advancing the university’s mission and supporting Chancellor Hargrove’s priorities. In his role, Brown will oversee major institutional initiatives, foster collaboration across divisions and help ensure the successful implementation of ECSU’s strategic goals.
Most recently, Brown served as the founding dean of the College of Graduate and Continuing Studies at Coastal Carolina University. There, he led a significant expansion in graduate and adult learner enrollment, launched the institution’s first degree program tailored to nontraditional students, and spearheaded a campus-wide initiative to improve online course quality.
Before joining Coastal Carolina, Brown served as interim provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at Fayetteville State University. He helped guide the university through a successful transition to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and oversaw the recruitment of the institution’s largest freshman class in more than a decade. He previously served as dean of the Broadwell College of Business and Economics at Fayetteville State, where he led substantial enrollment growth and strengthened corporate and community partnerships.
In 2025, Brown was named one of the 50 Most Influential in the Grand Strand by B2B: The Grand Strand Magazine. He currently serves on several boards and commissions focused on higher education access, transfer excellence and regional economic development.
“Elizabeth City State University embodies the transformative power of education and the promise of opportunity,” Brown said. “I am honored to join this vibrant community and look forward to working alongside Chancellor Hargrove to advance a bold vision rooted in innovation, access and student success.”
Brown holds a Ph.D. in strategy and international business from Old Dominion University, an MBA from Strayer University and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from North Carolina State University. Brown is a graduate of the UNC System’s Executive Leadership Institute and a member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.