Alumni Feature - Deborah Brown '95

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A leader in the Chicago broadcasting industry, Deborah Brown credits her family for instilling the importance of loyalty to family, community, faith and country. This quality is evident in her community service and the thrust of her career. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Radio/TV Broadcasting from Lewis University in 1995 and was recognized as an active and dynamic student. Deborah was involved with several campus organizations including Delta Sigma Theta, Student Government, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Pan-Hellenic Council and the Black Student Union. At Commencement, the Alumni Association presented her with the Father Aquinas Award which recognizes students who have demonstrated personal and intellectual growth, commitment to faith, and dedication to the Lasallian values of justice and association.
After graduation, Deborah began her highly successful career in broadcasting as an intern for WGN-TV on the assignment desk for television news. As her talent was recognized, Deborah was promoted several times and worked as a segment producer for WGN’s Morning News, developing the popular and Emmy-nominated “Unsung Heroes” segment, featuring those who give back to the community. In 2006, Deborah was named Director of Station Relations for NBC5-TV Chicago. In this executive post, she is able to demonstrate her longstanding commitment to giving back to the community by reaching out to an even wider audience through her hard work and dedication. Under her leadership, NBC5 sponsors the Tri-Masters Triathlon for children, a clothing drive during Women’s History Month and other initiatives. Deborah is a member of the Board of Directors for Africa International House, the NBC Universal Community Affairs Council and Rotary International. She is also a mentor and former Board President of WRAP-Women's Resource Assistance Program, which helps chemically dependent women get off drugs and find jobs. Deborah is a board member of Mujers Latinas en Accione as well as Black Perspectives, a branch of the Chicago Film Festival. President of the Black and Hispanic Achievers Board, she also serves as Presiding Partner of SAVE, an investment club of professional women, and serves on the Walgreens Community Advisory Task Force.
Deborah was recently featured as one of the “12 Women We Admire” in N’Digo magazine and one the FINEST featured in Uptown magazine. She has been honored by Who’s Who of Black Chicago three years in a row, was nominated for the NBC Universal Inclusion Award, received the Chicago Sky’s Bank of America Woman of Inspiration Award, and in 2009, she was honored with the Crescent Moon Award from Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. She is a member of St. Mark’s Missionary Baptist church in Harvey, Illinois where she serves as the Campaign Director of the Master Plan Stewardship Campaign.
An active Lewis University alumna, Deborah consistently gives back to her alma mater and has been instrumental in providing connections for Lewis students and staff to the Chicago broadcasting community.

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