Jaime-Lynne Brown
A Bright Teaching Future for the Rio Grande Valley |
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Jamie-Lynne Brown graduated from McAllen Memorial High School in 1998. She received her undergraduate degree in Communication Studies with a double-minor in Spanish and Mass Communications from Southwest Texas State University, now Texas State University. While at SWTSU, Jamie completed sessions at La Universidad Autonoma de Coahuila in Saltillo, Mexico and Desarollo Educacion de Guanajuato in Guanajuato, Mexico.
After graduation, Jamie began her career for the University of Texas at Austin with the Office of Student Financial Services. There she counseled students about financial aid opportunities. Then, in 2004 she was promoted to the Outreach Team that visits schools throughout the state informing them about financial aid opportunities for low-income students. She has championed a successful campaign directed at low income students with the message that “College is Possible and Financial aid is Easy”.
She has coordinated the Austin Area Outreach Program, partnered with Austin ISD to provide updated college financial aid information to students in Austin and managed the UT-Austin outreach program which participates in Incoming Freshman Orientation helping students make the final transition from high school to college life. Now, Jamie is the Project Coordinator for Statewide Outreach, a collaboration between UT-Austin Admissions and the Office of Student Financial Services that informs students across the state about the benefits of attending UT-Austin and the ways to go about obtaining funding for it. “The Texas Outreach Project has not only provided me the opportunity to visit exceptional schools around the state, but also the chance to meet many students with dreams of seeing the world through a different lens. Once a student realizes their dream of furthering their education there is no way I am going to let money get in the way!
“My favorite area to travel to is the Rio Grande Valley, not only because my family is there but students from the Valley are so appreciative when college representatives visit. The Valley has a culture like no other; my hope is that students from the Rio Grande Valley realize their potential and help to advance our culture to other areas of the state, country and around the globe. I take great pride in all that I have accomplished since high school. It is important to me that students from the Rio Grande Valley understand that there is an enormous world out there ready for them to explore. My goal is to give them the push they need to start their exploration.”
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"I hope that for young students of the Rio Grande Valley, they too will find life’s transitions meaningful and that they discover a sense of purpose and a desire to achieve worthy goals, utilizing the skills and culture they cultivated in Valley.”
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“After working at UT-Austin the last 5 years, I realized that serving students and working in a university environment is where I want to be. In April 2008 I was admitted to graduate school at the University of Texas at Austin’s Higher Education Administration Program. The knowledge and skills I will acquire through the program will give me that much needed background to successfully pursue my higher education goals. I will admit that balancing a full-time job and attending school part time is extremely difficult but, as someone very special to me has always said, “nothing worth achieving is easy.” “Without my education I have no idea where I would be or who I would be. I know that no matter where I end up in life, my educational and career accomplishments will ensure success."
“The blessings I have received in the form of my family support and from my boyfriend, Steven has given me strength. When they tell me how proud they are of my work I feel a great sense of accomplishment. Without their continued support I have no idea what I would do. I have noticed when students find out they have been admitted to a college or university outside of their hometown, they immediately find joy in leaving their parents. The idea of (finally!) being on their own is overwhelming but exciting. I have realized that my mom, dad, and especially my “Mama” played a major role in me even beginning to think about getting a college education. They have been essential to my growth and maturity and are also responsible for instilling the values
that I hold true today.”
“As I look back, growing up in the Upper Valley was truely a valuable experience. To us, multiculturalism is a way of life that we have always enjoyed and missed when away. I like many in south texas are inherently bicultural with an Anglo dad (Joe) and a Latina mom (Dora)! Just like in I Love Lucy, I had a great time growing up around different cultures.” Jamie-Lynne, I noted speaks fluent spanish which she tells us has been a great advantage in her work. “To speak and understand spanish means that I can more clearly help thousands of students reach their potential here in the state.”
“Sometimes transitions in life can bring you back home in a special sentimental way. I hope that for young students of the Rio Grande Valley, they too will find life’s transitions meaningful and that they discover a sense of purpose and a desire to achieve worthy goals, utilizing the skills and culture they cultivated in Valley.”
Jamie-Lynne Brown is the daughter of two very proud parents, Joe and Dora Brown of McAllen, Texas who clearly instilled in Jamie a great mix of civic pride, worthy dedication and a sincere desire to help young people move up early in life, when it counts most. Jamie-Lynne is intensely proud of her Upper Valley heritage. There is a sense of great pride to know that a Valley Girl, like Jamie, is an ideal ambassador for our Valley lifestyle. We are so pleased to recognize Jamie-Lynne Brown as a Contempo Upper Valley Pioneer and we are honored to have her adorn our September Cover. Looks like another success story for the baby boomer crowd.
R. Magaña/Editor
Photos by
Rachael Morgan Photography
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