Kean University Public Administration Graduate Empowers New Jersey Communities and Their Leaders

Public administration is more than a career for David G. Brown II — it’s also his hobby and his passion.

In addition to serving as manager, chief executive officer and purchasing agent for Ocean Township, Brown volunteers with groups like the NAACP and was an economic development expert on Governor Phil Murphy’s transition team in 2017.

In Ocean Township, Brown handles hiring, board and commission appointments and union contracts. He also helps draft the township’s budget, and, as a licensed purchasing agent, oversees procurement.

“Running a town fascinates me because it involves handling the needs of residents, managing the concerns of governing bodies and engaging in the strategic planning that ultimately brings a project to life,” Brown said.

Previously, Brown coordinated urban enterprise zones in Newark, Roselle and Plainfield. A pinnacle moment came when he worked with Cory Booker, then Newark’s mayor, to help develop the Prudential Center, which opened in 2007.

“I met with Prudential, Newark’s Housing Authority and private owners to facilitate land swaps, purchases and demolition,” Brown said. “We also oversaw the construction of streets around the arena and the entranceway into the building.”

Having earned two degrees in public administration from Kean – a BA in 1997 and a MPA in 2002 – Brown has returned several times to speak at Bridging the Information Divide: A Small Business Conference.

He also collaborates with Kean in his roles with the National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA): president of the New Jersey Chapter and chair of the national Finance Committee.

“Under David's leadership, Kean University has forged a robust partnership with the New Jersey NFBPA, creating a dynamic platform for developing the next generation of municipal and public service leaders,” said Joseph Youngblood, II, Ph.D., J.D., Kean’s senior vice president of transformational learning and external affairs. “David’s career exemplifies the transformative power of Kean’s effective public administration education, and the lasting impact one individual can have on communities and future leaders in public service.”

Brown also volunteers as treasurer of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration, which was recently reorganized by Marc Pfeiffer, a local government

expert and former Kean adjunct professor, to partner with the state’s academic programs in public administration.

“David has developed a unique set of capabilities, including his patience in listening to different views and looking for common ground in disputes,” Pfeiffer said. “His work with professional organizations supports their missions while providing many people with networking opportunities.”

With retirement a possibility within about four years, Brown anticipates reinventing himself. He expects to complete an online doctorate in public administration from West Chester University in 2027, with the goals of becoming a public policy consultant and a teacher at the university level.

Brown graduated from high school in Long Branch, where he still resides, with no intention of attending college. But when he joined the National Guard, he met friends who encouraged him to join them at Kean.

He arrived at the university with plans to major in political science but found his direction when his professors introduced him to public administration. Brown also served as student government president, a representative to Kean’s Board of Trustees and a resident assistant.

“I learned how to manage people. I learned how to manage money. Everything started there,” he said.

He also learned a lot by serving as a legislative aide for Rep. Wynona Lipman, a job he pursued after hearing her legislative aide speak on campus.

“That's why I tell students to show up to things, network, meet folks and learn,” Brown said. “That will take them far.”