Megan Brown, professor of English, and Stacy Gnacisnki, assistant professor of health sciences, have joined the John Dee Bright College staff as associate deans. Their experience as teachers, researchers, and citizens of Bright College and University will help us advance our mission in crucial ways, including recruiting excellent faculty to lead the College’s seminars and attracting future cohorts of amazing students to our program.

Professor Brown is a member of the Bright College founding faculty and has co-led two JDBC courses. She also serves as Drake’s director of writing and as faculty athletics representative. She is the author of two books and many peer-reviewed journal articles. 

Professor Gnacinski came to Drake in 2017. In addition to teaching various courses in the health sciences program, she co-taught a Bright College seminar in Spring 2022. She also serves as a mental performance consultant for the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia’s ski and snowboard teams.

Beyond their professional accomplishments, Professors Brown and Gnacinski bring optimism, energy, and a deep and shared commitment to the College’s mission: Affordable access to innovative excellence.

— Craig Owens, Dean, John Dee Bright College