Name: Richard D. Brown

Birthplace: St. Mary’s, Kansas

Birthdate: June 26, 1936

Current NIU position: Dean of the College of Business

Years in current position: Five. I came here in 1971.

Education: Undergraduate degree in journalism: University of Kansas. Master’s degree at Kansas State College in Emporia. Ph.D. in business administration: University of Illinois.

Car driven: I rarely drive. We have a Buick and a Honda Accord but my wife and son drive them more. I never drive any place I can’t walk or ride my bike to.

Favorite food: German food in general. I like pot roasts, veal of all kinds, anything with noodles…I like to make soups, especially when it’s cold weather.

Favorite TV show: I frequently watch the evening news, or occasionally a documentary on Channel 11 or part of a ballgame.

Favorite movie: I rarely go to movies, but when I go I want to be entertained. I like comedies and human interest stories.

Favorite music: I rarely ever listen to music. I tend to look at it as noise. When I do listen it’s New Orleans jazz.

Favorite book: I’m interested in books on leadership, marketing, economics. With fiction, I tend to like historical novels, like Louis L’Amour novels.

Favorite vacation spot: Southern Germany and Austria. Salzburg, Austria is my favorite city – it’s the prettiest city I’ve ever seen.

Most likely to be found at: My office (When I’m in town). I’m gone a couple of days a week.

Hobbies: Reading, golf, tennis, canoeing, hiking, and camping. I’m basically an outdoors person.

Ideal way to spend an evening: In this country, probably reading, or with a couple of close friends.

Favorite childhood memory: Playing ball – whatever kind – basketball, baseball, football. I played on varsity in high school – you didn’t have to be good, just willing.

What I like most about my job: Working with the business community to help establish program priorities for the college.

What I like the least about my job: Going to meetings on campus. On a weekly basis that’s 8 or 10.

Most memorable NIU experience: It has been building the support of the Chicago community for NIU’s business program. We’re not finished with it yet.

Role models: I have learned from an awful lot of people. I’ve tried to incorporate the best from 30 or 40 people. I see it as a constant process.

Worst advice ever given: Not to come to NIU. I’m very pleased I came.

Behind my back people say: It depends on who it is. There are people who will say negative things, like how the college of business might be too self-centered, and people who will say positive things too. It depends on who you talk to.