The University's Cultural Resource Center, which was located at 314 East Hanna Street, was named in honor of Dorothy Brown. Born in Tennessee, Mrs. Brown moved to Greencastle in her teen years. She excelled in academics and track and received a bachelor of science degree in education and then a master of science in school administration from Indiana State University.
Mrs. Brown was the first African-American to teach in Greencastle schools and served as principal of Ridpath School; she taught in DePauw's education department from 1986-89. Mrs. Brown was appointed the Assistant Dean of Students for Minority Affairs by DePauw President Robert Bottoms in 1986. She is credited with being the first director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs.
In 1998, a group of student activists founded the Student Coalition for Awareness, Revolution and Education (S.C.A.R.E.) formed to address concerns among members of the Independent Council, Association of African-American Students, and United DePauw. In 1999, SCARE expanded to include the Coalition for Women’s Concerns (which would later become FMLA and Feminista!), The Hawaii Club, ASIA Club, Hispanos Unidos (which would later be named the Committee for Latino Concerns) and requested group housing in Anderson Street Hall.
The floor lounges became meeting rooms for United DePauw (Queer Center), CLC (Latina/o Lounge), CWC (Gender Room & Resource Library or GRRL Room), and Hawaii Club (currently, Asian American Pacific Islander Initiative, AAPI) &ASIA Club (Asian American Resource Center). In Fall 2004, the DePauw University Women’s Center was founded and became the repository of the materials from the GRRL Room. Four years later, the Queer Center, CLC space and PanAsia were relocated to individual apartments in a five unit apartment building which was renovated and named in honor of grassroots activist and community leader, Dorothy Brown. Students were hired to live in the apartments and serve as “Resident Interns”-- responsible for providing programming and building oversight. In 2010, the International Student Center—a space dedicated for student use, began calling the first floor of Dorothy Brown “home”.
Still active in many local organizations, Mrs. Brown has lectured and been discussion leader for many multicultural programs and community initiatives.