Karen Harris Brown, PhD, CCC-SLP

Virgin Islands UCEDD, University of the Virgin Islands
Phone: 340-693-1173

Dr. Brown is an Associate Professor of Education at the University of the Virgin Islands. She is Associate Director for Research, Evaluation, and Grant Development at the Virgin Islands UCEDD (VI UCEDD). Prior to her current role, she was a tenured associate professor of speech-language pathology and program director. Dr. Brown has a Master of Science degree in speech-language pathology and Doctor of Philosophy degree in curriculum and instruction: special education, with emphasis in cultural and linguistic diversity. She has 24 years of clinical experience as a speech-language pathologist and ten years of experience preparing undergraduate and graduate students in special education and speech-language pathology. Dr. Brown maintains the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and has worked with individuals across the lifespan in a variety of medical and academic settings.

She is a professional development trainer and consultant for the Virgin Islands Department of Human Services, Office of Child Care Regulatory Services (OCCRS) and Virgin Islands Department of Education, Division of Special Education, St. Croix School District. Her research agenda, trainings, and technical assistance have focused on family-centered care, developmental monitoring and screening, self-efficacy, and culturally relevant practices in assessment and intervention. Her refereed journal articles and book chapters primarily focus on efficacy in cultural competence.

Currently, Dr. Brown is a guest faculty member with the Vermont LEND Program as part of a partnership between Vermont LEND and the Virgin Islands UCEDD to prepare LEND trainees and fellows in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). She is a 2015 Leadership Institute graduate and former Georgia LEND trainee. Additionally, Dr. Brown is the CDC's Act Early Ambassador to the USVI.