Jonathan Brown

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Biography

In January 2012 Jonathan Brown formed Buffalo Consulting, to assist colleges and universities in the US and Mexico on a variety of projects. For the prior 20 years he served as President of the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities. He began there as Vice President in 1975. Earlier in his career he served in a number of political positions including two positions in the White House and also as a staff member of a US Senator, a Member of Congress and the Minority Leader of the California Assembly.

He holds an AB (honors) in International Relations from the University of the Pacific. He completed graduate study at George Washington University (International Relations), Catholic University (Urban Education) and Harvard University (Institute for Educational Management). He holds a DPA from University of Southern California, with specializations in Public Finance and Tax. He has been awarded three honorary doctorates (Doctor of Letters from California Baptist University and the American Jewish University and Doctor of Business Administration from Woodbury University). Universidad Anáhuac Mexico Sur awarded him a la Amistad Universal de Todos los Pueblos in 2006.

Brown has served on numerous boards including United Educators, RRG (where he was founding chair), a specialized insurance company for educational institutions; Ed Fund, where he served as chair for five years; Tuition Plan Incorporated, a §529 tuition prepayment plan for independent colleges. He is an emeritus director of the California Casualty Indemnity Exchange Board where he served for fifteen years. CCIE is a direct writer of auto and home coverage. He was a congressionally appointed member of the National Commission on College Costs and a member of the NACUBO Task Force on College Costs.

His scholarly interests have included the issues of technology and globalization as well as transparency in governmental systems and governance issues in organizations. He has written and spoken extensively in these areas and on college cost issues. He was an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California and has taught at the business schools of Universidad Anáhuac de Xalapa, Universidad del Mayab and Universidad Anáhuac del Sur.

Industry Expertise (4)

Insurance

Education/Learning

Management Consulting

Corporate Leadership

Areas of Expertise (3)

Tax Policy

Public Policy Analysis and Advocacy

Nonprofit Management

Accomplishments (1)

Three Honorary Degrees (personal)

Awarded Honorary Doctorate of Letters (California Baptist University), Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration (Woodbury University) Honorary Doctorate of Letters (American Jewish University

Education (2)

University of the Pacific: AB (Honors), Internatonal Relations 1968

University of Southern California: DPA, Public Administration 1985

Specialization in Tax Policy and Finance. Dissertation nominated for dissertation of the year in two fields.

Affiliations (7)

• Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities
• National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
• United Educators
• Ed Fund
• California Casualty Indemnity Exchange Board
• Tuition Plan Incorporated
• Patronato Pro Ninos (a health charity in Mexico)

Languages (1)

• Spanish

Testimonials (1)

Robert F Hemphill, Retired | AES

I have known Jonathan Brown, professionally and personally, for more than thirty years, first in Washington DC and then when he moved to Sacramento and worked in the legislative/state policy arena and in the private university world. He is without question one of the smartest and most interesting people I have ever had the good luck to call a friend. When he told me he was writing a memoir I was eager to see the results and read it. I am pleased to report that it’s an interesting and arresting book. And if the title itself doesn’t catch your eye, Of Course It’s True, Except for a Couple of Lies then I can’t help you.   There’s a bit of everything in it. It begins with an ancestor for whom he was named, who came west for the gold rush, like so many other young men. Other forbears are also mentioned, and their exploits chronicled. I wish that I had the detail on my great and great great grandparents that Jonathan has excavated and included in the book.   The second part is a more modern focus, this time on his life in Washington and mostly California. Jonathan did not do things in a small way. Years ago, when running became fashionable, although not by nature a skilled athlete he took up the sport. He quickly progressed from neighborhood 10K races to 50-mile ones. This is not an achievement available without a significant time and mental fiber commitment, but he did well in this highly challenging subset of the running world. In so doing, he also contributed to keeping Nike going as a profitable concern.   Finally, he draws on his life in politics and, well, life to offer some interesting conclusions about our society and its traits, trends, values, and peculiarities. His conclusions about the wisdom of markets vs bureaucrats seem especially on point to me, as I have been both. He also cleverly notes that the “glass half full or glass half empty” question is not the appropriate interrogatory to ask. Given his belief in the adaptability of humans, he argues persuasively that the glass is refillable.  Darn, I wish I had thought to say that.   I recommend this book strongly, as it is well written, thoughtful, and funny. You will learn things that you never thought would interest you, but in Jonathan’s capable hands they do indeed.   Robert Hemphill Author of “Goats Ate Our Wires: Stories of Travel for Business and Pleasure” (Part of a Trilogy on Building an International Business)