Meet a Colleague: Mickie Brown ’21 Mickie Brown ’21 serves as an academic technologist in the IQ Center.

W&L News Office
September 25, 2024

Q. How long have you worked at W&L?
I have worked at W&L on and off for the last seven years, initially in a work-study position in the campus bakery, then as a student worker in the Outing Club until graduation. I’ve existed in my current role (more or less) for the past two years.

Q. What do you like most about working at W&L?
I love that I get to work on wide variety of projects across virtually all academic and administrative departments at the university. My role embodies the spirit of the liberal arts educational model and I truly appreciate the variety and depth associated with my work in the IQ Center.

Q. Where is your favorite location on the W&L campus?
There’s a sizable spring on back campus that is full of aquatic vegetation and moss-covered rocks. Sometime between late March and early May hundreds of bluebells bloom in the area. It’s straight out of a fairytale.

Q. Where did you grow up?
I grew up on a farm 15 minutes outside the town of Louisa, Virginia – about an hour and a half northeast of here. When I first arrived at W&L as a student, I remember people complaining about how small Lexington is and that there’s nothing to do. I was shocked, I mean we have a movie theater and a hospital! What else do you need?

Q. What advice do you have for students?
The best advice I have for students is to make the most of your time here on campus, while keeping in mind why you are here. College is a stage of your life that allows for unprecedented personal growth, exploration and adventure, but you must be willing to do the work to make the most of it. Above all, take care of yourself and your health. Sleep is incredibly important.

Q. What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not working?
Basically anything outside. My favorite outdoor activities right now are rock climbing, hiking and mountain biking.

Q. If you could live anywhere, where would you build your dream home?
If money was no issue, I would build a home just outside of Squamish in British Columbia.

Q. What book are you reading now?
I’ve developed the bad habit of starting another book before I’ve finished the one I’m currently reading. Right now I’m pecking away at a collection of Aldo Leopold’s work, “How I Learned to Snap: A Small Town Coming-Out and Coming-of-Age Story,” and “My Hero Academia Vol. 1.”

Q. What music are you listening to these days?
This year I’ve been really into neo-jazz/funk/soul with a little bit of progressive rock, bluegrass and indie folk mixed in.

Q. What is the website you visit most often and why?
It’s Reddit, and it’s not close. Some may say it’s an addiction, but I use it to keep up on my many hobbies and alert me of any major news stories that occur throughout the day.

Q. If you could have coffee with one person, who would it be and why?
Adam Savage. He was a huge role model for me growing up and I’d love to pick his mind about workshop and tool related expertise.

Q. What is your desert island food?
Loaded falafel wraps! That way I can have one of my favorite foods and I can also disassemble it to get some variety if needed.

Q. Tell us something most people don’t know about you.
I took three years of culinary arts classes in high school and was very close to going to culinary school.

Q. What is your secret talent?
I voraciously collect niche hobby skills including building custom keyboards, acrylic painting, wire working, car repair, collecting houseplants, tabletop gaming and many others.