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Brown-Edwards Named Hope Chicago Advisor at °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼

August 23, 2022


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MACOMB, IL – °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ alumna and longtime Macomb resident Tammie Leigh Brown-Edwards has been named the advisor for the new Hope Chicago program at °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼.

Brown-Edwards, who recently graduated from °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ with her master's degree in college student personnel, will provide support to the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ Hope Chicago cohort, which is composed of approximately 60 students who started at °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ this fall. In addition, Brown-Edwards, who is part of the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ Office of Retention Initiatives, will develop and implement programs and events to enhance persistence, graduation rates and support for Hope Chicago and other °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ students.

In Summer 2022, °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ and Hope Chicago joined together for a new, innovative two-generation college scholarship program committed to investing $1 billion in postsecondary scholarships to Chicago Public School students and their parents over the next decade.

As a Hope Chicago partner university, incoming Hope Scholars at Western are eligible for the full suite of comprehensive support that Hope Chicago offers including scholarships to cover all academic and extracurricular-related expenses.

"We are so excited to have Tammie Leigh join our office and to serve as the adviser for this new program. During her time as a graduate student at °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼, she worked in the First Year Advising Center and served as an adviser to °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ groups. Her experiences at °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼, coupled with her motivation and commitment to our students will serve our Hope Chicago – and all °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ students – very well," said Executive Director of Retention Initiatives Justin Schuch.

In addition to her work as a graduate assistant in the advising center, Brown-Edwards also worked as a graduate assistant for the Academic Success Workshops and in the Veterans Resource Center. She also completed an internship as the summer conference and housing coordinator for Residence Education and Housing Services at Michigan Technological University, and she has served as a transfer orientation course co-instructor for the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences at the University of Minnesota.

"College can – and should – be a life-changing experience and prepare students for the next chapter of their lives," Brown-Edwards said. "It's absolutely imperative that students are supported and have the resources to succeed. I am beyond thrilled to be an advisor, a mentor and a resource for Hope Chicago Leathernecks at °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼."

Brown-Edwards also serves as an Alderperson-at-Large for the City of Macomb, and has been involved in numerous diversity and social justice initiatives within Macomb, including Macomb Moving Forward, Macomb Juneteenth (co-founder), 309 Day (founder), City of Macomb Pronoun Day, Vivian Society (co-founder), to name a few. At °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼, she is an adviser for Sigma Gamma Rho sorority and is a member of the Lambda Lavender Honor Society.

She earned her master's from °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²ÊÀúÊ·¼Ç¼ and her bachelor's degree from Eastern Illinois University. She also holds an associate degree from Waubonee Community College.

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