Dr. Santarvis Brown
Visionary Leader. Strategic Partner. Equity Architect.
Dr. Santarvis Brown is the Founder and Principal Consultant of The Equity & Elevation Collective™, a boutique consulting firm dedicated to advancing equity-centered leadership and institutional transformation. With over two decades of experience in higher education, nonprofit strategy, and faith-based leadership, Dr. Brown has become a trusted advisor to mission-driven organizations across the country.
A dynamic educator and full professor, Dr. Brown has held influential roles at institutions including Excelsior University, Cornell University, and the University of Virginia. His leadership has consistently focused on cultivating inclusive systems, strengthening organizational strategy, and empowering culturally responsive leaders to drive lasting impact. Whether guiding universities through complex accreditation processes or supporting nonprofits in deepening their community reach, Dr. Brown brings clarity, compassion, and strategic precision to every engagement.
His academic credentials include a Doctor of Education in Educational Administration, alongside advanced executive training from Cornell. Dr. Brown’s excellence has been recognized nationally, his work has been featured on the NASDAQ Tower in Times Square and celebrated on the covers of multiple leadership and diversity-focused publications. As a Distinguished Scholar Practitioner at the European Institute for Higher Education and a Visiting Scholar at the Rutgers University Samuel D. Proctor Institute, he continues to shape the discourse around equity and innovation in education.
Dr. Brown is also an accomplished author of several critically acclaimed books, including Leading While Limping, The Equitable Edge, and Leading in Color, each offering timely insights for leaders navigating identity, influence, and systems change. His work spans executive coaching, curriculum innovation, accreditation strategy, nonprofit capacity building, and civic engagement, anchored always in a justice-oriented, relationship-first philosophy.
Beyond titles and credentials, Dr. Brown is deeply committed to equipping leaders and institutions to lead with purpose, integrity, and boldness. His approach is rooted in listening, co-creation, and transformation, ensuring that every client is empowered to dismantle barriers and build equity into the core of their work.
From classrooms to boardrooms, Dr. Santarvis Brown continues to elevate what leadership can and should be: inclusive, courageous, and visionary.