Sonja M. Brown has been appointed provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB). She will begin her new role on January 4.
Dr. Brown comes to UAPB from Fayetteville State University, where she has served as associate vice chancellor for academic and faculty affairs for more than two years. In January 2026, she assumed additional responsibilities as the university’s interim provost and chief academic officer.
Before her time with Fayetteville State, Dr. Brown served as dean of the College of Media and Mass Communication at American University in the Emirates in Dubai and as vice president for academic affairs at Great Basin College in Nevada. She has also served in various administrative and faculty roles at Palo Verde College, Medaille University, Empire State College, Ashland University, and the University of Alabama in Huntsville. As a communications scholar, Dr. Brown has published extensively on media representation, race, gender, mentorship, and the experiences of women of color in academic and professional contexts.
“I am honored to join the Golden Lion family at such a pivotal moment,” said Dr. Brown. “Faculty are the lifeblood of any university, and students are the reason we do this work. I look forward to listening, building trust, and working alongside this community to advance our land-grant mission through teaching, research and service.”
Dr. Brown received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in speech communication from California State University, Fresno. She holds a doctorate in interpersonal communication and media studies from the University of Georgia.