Liberty department chair emphasizes importance of following God’s call for life

Ever since Janet Brown accepted Christ at 8 years old, she knew it was the right decision. However, she never expected to be working in ministry and higher education until she heard God’s voice.

Brown is the residential department chair of Family & Consumer Sciences (FACS) at Liberty University. She has a master’s in human services and a doctorate in educational leadership. She has been married for 39 years and has three adult children and four grandchildren, with one more on the way.

In her spare time, Brown loves to travel. This past summer she visited Italy with her husband. She also enjoys the outdoors, walking with her labradors and staying active.

Brown started working in her current position in 2021. Since then, she has aimed to grow the program by implementing new resources for students to use. Brown said that FACS is Liberty’s “best-kept secret.” The department comprises six areas of study, including family and child development, interior design, fashion design, event planning, fashion merchandising, and professional and creative industries. Specifically, the department focuses on family relationships, dynamics and consumer resources. FACS has also partnered with the Liberty Marketing Department to send two fashion students to New York Fashion Week each year.

“We teach robust content to develop healthy families and communities in strategically dynamic and creative ways,” Brown said.

Currently, Brown is the vice president of NextGenMatter LLC. Through this position, she has mentored women from all over the United States in a virtual format. This has allowed her to engage with women called to ministry and speak at churches.

Brown led an LU Send trip with FACS students to Maui Oct. 5-13 to serve the community still affected by the fires that broke out last year. Brown has also worked as a lay counselor and a life-skills coach. She is certified for premarital counseling in the Save Your Marriage Before It Starts Assessment and has led numerous workshops on a variety of topics throughout the years.

“It is my goal for our department that we stay faithful to God’s Word and share content from the research and with faith integration to support students to live out their calling to make a difference in their own life, their family and in our world,” Brown said.

Hooker is a lifestyle reporter for the Liberty Champion.