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 Ģ������ƵStories      February 21, 2025

By Bill Studenc

When Ģ������Ƶ Chancellor Kelli R. Brown unveiled plans for a comprehensive fundraising campaign shortly after her arrival in 2019, she prioritized seeking philanthropic support for enhancements to the overall student experience, including academics, athletics, and community and global engagement.

As the “Fill the Western Sky” campaign enters its public phase, Brown is putting her money where her priorities are. She and husband Dennis recently made an estate gift of $4 million that will benefit 11 university funds.

The Browns’ leadership gift will support endowments for scholarships for first-generation students; military student services; academic programming; student-athletes and athletics facilities; the marching band; and student success and emergency funds. The estate gift is in addition to $100,000 toward athletics facilities renovations from the Browns in 2023.

“During our short time here, Dennis and I have learned what a difference Ģ������Ƶmakes in the lives of students. We have seen the transformative effect it has for students, their families and ultimately the communities in which they live,” she said. “We wanted to have an impact on the full student experience.”

One of the new endowed funds is in honor of her father and supports military students, while a portion of the gift goes toward a previously established scholarship fund in honor of her mother.

“My parents guided, nudged and supported me in so many ways. They were always there for us kids, and one thing was certain – we were going to college,” she said. “My dad served in the Air Force as a captain, and he was a member of ROTC while in college, which helped support his degree. I wanted to support our students who are current military, veterans and reservists. Without these young men and women defending our democracy, the United States may look very different.”

For Dennis Brown, a first-generation college student, philanthropy was not a part of his formative years, as is the case for many Ģ������Ƶalumni and donors of modest means who tend to focus on simply paying the bills.

“My parents came from very humble beginnings and did not even finish high school. My siblings and I were raised like my parents – success in life came by being honest and hard-working.  Education beyond high school  was seldom discussed because of the cost and the need to support our family,” he said.

Possessing a shared eagerness to learn, he and his siblings found ways to attend college. “My degree changed my life,” he said. “Being first-generation and experiencing the success my degree has afforded me, and knowing the number of first-generation students that Ģ������Ƶserves, it has become important for me to give back and transform the lives of our students and their families.”

While selecting what areas to support through their estate gift, the Browns agreed it was important to include improvements to Catamount athletics facilities – a top campaign priority.

“Western takes great pride in providing students with an overall college experience that is second to none. Athletics is an important part of the total college experience. It enhances visibility that allows us to recruit and retain students,” she said. “I am asking alumni and friends to support our athletics facilities, and it only seemed appropriate that Dennis and I contribute as well. We need to walk the talk.”

Funds supported by the Browns’ estate gift:

* Dennis & Kelli Brown Endowed Scholarship – For incoming freshmen from the Western North Carolina counties of Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon or Swain, with preference to first-generation college students.

* Charlene L.F. McCormack Endowed Scholarship – Originally established in 2020 in honor of her late mother to provide financial support to first-generation college students who live in the seven westernmost counties of North Carolina.

* James R. McCormack Veterans Program Endowment – To support the Office of Military Student Services for experiential learning and professional development activities for students who are veterans or active military members.

* Dennis and Kelli Brown Fine and Performing Arts Program Endowment – To support experiential learning and professional development opportunities for students in the David Orr Belcher College of Fine and Performing Arts.

* Kelli and Dennis Brown Health and Human Sciences Program Endowment – To establish a speaker series that will bring to campus industry-leading scholars and experts for the benefit of students in the College of Health and Human Sciences.

* Dennis and Kelli Brown Football Program Endowment – To support summer football program room and board expenses and nutrition stations for the benefit of student-athletes on the Catamount football team.

* Dennis and Kelli Brown Volleyball Program Endowment – To support operational needs of the Ģ������Ƶvolleyball program.

* Dennis and Kelli Brown Men’s Basketball Program Endowment – To support operational needs of the Catamount men’s basketball program.

* Kelli Brown Student Success Program Endowment – To support experiential learning and professional development opportunities such as student travel for professional conferences, workshops and similar activities away from campus.

* Dennis Brown Pride of the Mountains Marching Band Program Endowment – To support the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band for program activities and travel to competition and invited events.

* Ģ������ƵStudent Affairs Emergency Fund – To support a fund, administered by the Division of Student Affairs, that provides monetary assistance to students who find themselves in times of unexpected financial crisis.

Chancellor Brown said it was not an easy task to determine which of the many deserving areas of the university to support with their estate gift.

“Dennis and I listed a number of programs and colleges or units we wanted to support going forward.  We narrowed down to two colleges – Fine and Performing Arts and Health and Human Sciences – to assist with student travel and a speaker’s series. We also wanted to endow a scholarship that was for incoming freshmen from the six surrounding counties that would be renewable for four years,” she said.

“And Dennis has loved the marching band from the day we arrived, so it was easy for us to support the Pride of the Mountains annual banquet and travel to events such as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. We wanted to also support athletics with an endowed fund to assist with the football summer program and operations for men’s basketball and women’s volleyball. Finally, we wanted to support the Office of Student Success to provide funds to assist students to be able to participate in experiential learning activities,” she said.

The decision to support the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band was a no-brainer, Dennis Brown said.

“Have you seen the band perform? Have you seen the hours of hard work they put in to present such awesome performances? I have. We've been with the band in New York City as they performed in the Macy's parade and most recently in Dublin, Ireland. The staff and students give so much of their time and effort and are such powerful ambassadors for our university. This is a program that goes beyond developing musical or dance talent. Rather, it is a demanding environment developing camaraderie, teamwork, leadership and a sense of belonging or family,” he said.

“Although I am not that musically inclined, I can't get enough of seeing and listening to them perform.  And having the opportunity to get to know some of them on a first-name basis, it was important for me to ensure the continued success and the legacy of our Pride of Mountains,” he said.

comes as Ģ������Ƶenters the public phase of its “Fill the Western Sky” comprehensive fundraising campaign, an effort to raise a minimum of $100 million in philanthropic support for the university’s academic, student engagement and athletics programs. For more information or to make a contribution to the campaign, visit , call 828-227-7124 or email advancement@wcu.edu.