Press Release

Jean Collins Joins The Stephen & Laurel Brown Foundation As Director of Administration

November 12, 2018

The Stephen & Laurel Brown Foundation is pleased to welcome Jean A. Collins as Director of Administration. The Foundation—which serves 30,000 guests per semester—formally launched its work in January 2015. Given the organization’s myriad opportunities to achieve  greater depth and breadth,  Jean’s high-level operational and strategic experience, relational skill, and vision for the nexus of the academy, marketplace, and church uniquely equip her to aid us in our growth.

The Foundation serves the University of Wisconsin and Madison communities by curating experiences of Christian thinking, being, and doing for personal and societal transformation. Through our Upper House and Dottie’s Ranch facilities, we invite people, faith, values, ideas, and the arts to gather in dynamic settings that foster vocational, intellectual, and cultural formation. As Director of Administration and a member of the executive office team, Jean will advance the Foundation’s goals of Christian education and vocational and intellectual formation by shaping strategic processes and systems that further establish a healthy organizational and team culture which, in turn, enhance partner and guest experiences.

“Ever since touring Upper House at its opening and hearing of its vision, I have had a yearning in my heart to be a part of it. The mission of Upper House touches my passion for bringing the excellence of the Kingdom of God to our city, the university, the marketplace, and communities beyond.”

As a senior leader, Jean has worked in business, government, and in the non-profit sector. For the past decade, Jean served as Director of Administration at High Point Church in Madison, Wisconsin. In this role, she oversaw all administration and operational aspects of the Church’s ministries, including budgeting, payroll, human resources, and facilities planning. Jean holds a B.S. in Environmental Engineering from Northwestern University. She is married to Matt, and they have four adult children.