Siri Briggs Brown

Siri Briggs Brown is a globally influential educator, researcher, and Black/African American culture advocate. She holds the position of Professor of African American Studies at Merritt College and serves as a part-time professor at the UC Berkeley Department of Ethnic Studies. Dr. Brown obtained her M.A. in African-American Studies and her Ph.D. in U.S. History with a focus on Early American, African-American, and U.S. women's history, both from The Ohio State University. Her academic achievements include being a two-time recipient of the prestigious Fulbright Award, through which she conducted research projects on Culture and Resistance in South Africa (2019) and the African cultural heritage of Salvador Bahia, Brazil (2012). Inspired by her trailblazing great-great-grandmother, Lula Glaspie Chatham, a midwife in Carthage, TX, who defied racial and gender discrimination to support the well-being of women, Dr. Brown has dedicated her career to social justice, racial equality, and women's empowerment. She is the proud mother of two sons who are Howard and Hampton Universities graduates.

Dr. Brown's professional journey encompasses remarkable accomplishments, including over 20 years of teaching experience as a tenured faculty member in African American Studies at Merritt College and as a part-time instructor in Ethnic Studies at UC Berkeley. She also served as the Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs and Student Support Services at Peralta Community College for nearly five years. She chaired the Ethnic Studies and Social Studies Department for over a decade. Moreover, Dr. Brown has established two Africana Studies Centers at Merritt College and McClymonds High School, offering interactive digital curricula exclusively designed for teaching African and African American History. In addition to her academic contributions, Dr. Brown is the CEO and owner of Global Academics, a venture she has led for over 15 years.