Ezell Brown
Encyclopedia
Ezell Brown, is an American businessman, entrepreneur
, investor
, philanthropist
and Chairman of Education Online Services Corporation.
He has over 20 years' experience in the analysis, development, and deployment of full service marketing campaigns. Brown has pursued a number of philanthropic endeavors and has donated money to various charitable organizations, educational causes and community outreach programs through the Ezell Brown Foundation, established in 2008.
Brown has three sisters: Yolanda (Brown) Phillips of San Antonio, Texas; Monica Brown of Waller, Texas; and Alicia (Brown) Pete of Prairie View, Texas. He also has three brothers: Freddie Brown of Pembroke Pines, Florida; John Brown of Cypress, Texas; and Ira Dale Cunningham of Cypress, Texas.
All of the Brown children were raised in Killeen Fort Hood by their mother and stepfather, retired Master Sergeant
and Vietnam War
veteran, John H. Cunningham of San Antonio, Texas.
Brown graduated from Ellison High School in 1988 and earned an athletic scholarship
to attend the University of Texas at Arlington
, Texas. While a student at University of Texas he studied business and met his future business partner and wife, Roshunda Young Brown. His interest in the direct marketing
business began through a part time job he had as a telemarketer to support himself while in college. Brown later earned a Bachelor's Degree in Organizational Leadership and Management from Morris Brown College.
Brown is Chairman of Education Online Service Corp. (EOServe Corp), an organization
dedicated to helping colleges and universities maximize online higher education. His strong desire to help the underserved market of historically black colleges and universities
(HBCUs) extend their geographical reach with online marketing technology was the initial inspiration for creating Education Online Services Corporation as well as the fact that online degree programs are now being considered as "strategically important" by HBCUs.
In early 2009, Brown hired long-time civil rights
leader Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. as President of EOServe Corp. Together they announced a historic partnership
with Morris Brown College
in April 2009 to lead the resurgence of that institution by enhancing its academic offering and aggressively recruiting and enrolling more students. By August of that same year Education Online Services launched a full, Internet-based degree program in Organizational Leadership and Management for Morris Brown College This partnership resulted in Morris Brown College becoming the first HBCU to offer a complete online degree program.
After the success of Morris Brown College, other schools quickly followed suit and partnered with Education Online Services Corporation such as Langston University
,Jackson State University
, Virginia University of Lynchburg
and Tougaloo College
. In August 2011, EOServe Corp. and the College of Business at Jackson State University launched the Masters of Business Administration online degree program.
In addition, EOServe Corp. partnered with the National Association For Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO). This partnership provides NAFEO's 123 member institutions with a cost effective way of expanding their reach beyond their campuses, to offer their current curriculum to thousands of students who want a degree but for whom a campus-based experience is not optimal.
through education by providing financial assistance to mothers between the ages of 21-64 who lack high school diplomas.
He is also an honorary member of the U.S. Board of Directors
for Upliftment Jamaica, an organization committed to empowering impoverished communities throughout Jamaica
and the Caribbean
.
Brown considers himself is a social democrat and a fiscal Republican
.
An independent review board oversees the scholarship program and determines the eligibility of applicants. The review board may also grant access to Higher Education Partner Programs on a test basis to qualified efforts and applicants. The Board votes on a simple majority basis within approximately one month after applications are collected.
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
, investor
Investor
An investor is a party that makes an investment into one or more categories of assets --- equity, debt securities, real estate, currency, commodity, derivatives such as put and call options, etc...
, philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
and Chairman of Education Online Services Corporation.
He has over 20 years' experience in the analysis, development, and deployment of full service marketing campaigns. Brown has pursued a number of philanthropic endeavors and has donated money to various charitable organizations, educational causes and community outreach programs through the Ezell Brown Foundation, established in 2008.
Early life
Brown was born in San Antonio, Texas. He is the third youngest of seven children to Barbara Jean Mays Cunningham of San Antonio, Texas. She is the middle child of three born to Ida B. Mays and Samuel L. Lewis. His grandfather Samuel Lewis was an entrepreneur and a pilot in the early 1950s.Brown has three sisters: Yolanda (Brown) Phillips of San Antonio, Texas; Monica Brown of Waller, Texas; and Alicia (Brown) Pete of Prairie View, Texas. He also has three brothers: Freddie Brown of Pembroke Pines, Florida; John Brown of Cypress, Texas; and Ira Dale Cunningham of Cypress, Texas.
All of the Brown children were raised in Killeen Fort Hood by their mother and stepfather, retired Master Sergeant
Master Sergeant
A master sergeant is the military rank for a senior non-commissioned officer in some armed forces.-Israel Defense Forces:Rav samal rishoninsignia IDF...
and Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
veteran, John H. Cunningham of San Antonio, Texas.
Brown graduated from Ellison High School in 1988 and earned an athletic scholarship
Athletic scholarship
An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport...
to attend the University of Texas at Arlington
University of Texas at Arlington
The University of Texas at Arlington is a public research university located in Arlington, Texas, United States. The campus is situated southwest of downtown Arlington, and is located in the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. The university was founded in 1895 and served primarily a military...
, Texas. While a student at University of Texas he studied business and met his future business partner and wife, Roshunda Young Brown. His interest in the direct marketing
Direct marketing
Direct marketing is a channel-agnostic form of advertising that allows businesses and nonprofits to communicate straight to the customer, with advertising techniques such as mobile messaging, email, interactive consumer websites, online display ads, fliers, catalog distribution, promotional...
business began through a part time job he had as a telemarketer to support himself while in college. Brown later earned a Bachelor's Degree in Organizational Leadership and Management from Morris Brown College.
Career
After college, Brown served as General Manager for National Marketing Specialist, a division of Pioneer Financial Services (NASDAQ FMR). This experience led him to launch other well known companies in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, employing more than one hundred employees through B&B Communications. Brown continued on the path to become a successful business owner, entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist.Brown is Chairman of Education Online Service Corp. (EOServe Corp), an organization
Organization
An organization is a social group which distributes tasks for a collective goal. The word itself is derived from the Greek word organon, itself derived from the better-known word ergon - as we know `organ` - and it means a compartment for a particular job.There are a variety of legal types of...
dedicated to helping colleges and universities maximize online higher education. His strong desire to help the underserved market of historically black colleges and universities
Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Historically black colleges and universities are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before 1964 with the intention of serving the black community....
(HBCUs) extend their geographical reach with online marketing technology was the initial inspiration for creating Education Online Services Corporation as well as the fact that online degree programs are now being considered as "strategically important" by HBCUs.
In early 2009, Brown hired long-time civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
leader Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. as President of EOServe Corp. Together they announced a historic partnership
Partnership
A partnership is an arrangement where parties agree to cooperate to advance their mutual interests.Since humans are social beings, partnerships between individuals, businesses, interest-based organizations, schools, governments, and varied combinations thereof, have always been and remain commonplace...
with Morris Brown College
Morris Brown College
Morris Brown College is a private, coed, liberal arts college located in the Vine City community of Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It is a historically black college affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church...
in April 2009 to lead the resurgence of that institution by enhancing its academic offering and aggressively recruiting and enrolling more students. By August of that same year Education Online Services launched a full, Internet-based degree program in Organizational Leadership and Management for Morris Brown College This partnership resulted in Morris Brown College becoming the first HBCU to offer a complete online degree program.
After the success of Morris Brown College, other schools quickly followed suit and partnered with Education Online Services Corporation such as Langston University
Langston University
Langston University is an institution of higher learning located in Langston, Oklahoma, USA. It is the only historically black college in the state, and the westernmost historically black college in the United States...
,Jackson State University
Jackson State University
Jackson State University is a historically black university founded in 1877 in Natchez, MS by the American Baptist Home Mission Society of New York. The Society moved the school to Jackson in 1882, renaming it Jackson College, and developed its present campus in 1902. It became a state supported...
, Virginia University of Lynchburg
Virginia University of Lynchburg
Virginia University of Lynchburg is a private, historically black university located in Lynchburg, Virginia. The university currently offers instruction and degrees, primarily in religious studies, including a Doctorate of Ministry program.-History:...
and Tougaloo College
Tougaloo College
Tougaloo College is a private, co-educational, liberal arts institution of higher education founded in 1869, in Madison County, north of Jackson, Mississippi, USA.Academically, Tougaloo College has received high ranks in recent years...
. In August 2011, EOServe Corp. and the College of Business at Jackson State University launched the Masters of Business Administration online degree program.
In addition, EOServe Corp. partnered with the National Association For Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO). This partnership provides NAFEO's 123 member institutions with a cost effective way of expanding their reach beyond their campuses, to offer their current curriculum to thousands of students who want a degree but for whom a campus-based experience is not optimal.
Other memberships
Brown serves as Chairman of the Advancement through Education Program, (formerly known as the Under21Foundation), an organization committed to decreasing generational povertyPoverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
through education by providing financial assistance to mothers between the ages of 21-64 who lack high school diplomas.
He is also an honorary member of the U.S. Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
for Upliftment Jamaica, an organization committed to empowering impoverished communities throughout Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
and the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
.
Personal life
Brown met his future wife and business partner, Roshunda Young Brown (born September 23, 1969) of Sulphur Springs, Texas, on the campus of the University of Texas during the summer of 1989. They dated for one and half years and married on December 1, 1990 in Dallas, Texas. They have two daughters, Kailee and Kiersten, and they currently reside in Parkland, Florida.Brown considers himself is a social democrat and a fiscal Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
.
Philanthropy
In the summer of 2008, Ezell and Roshunda Brown founded the Ezell Brown Foundation, a privately owned, non-profit corporation whose mission and purpose is to provide educational opportunity scholarships for underprivileged persons who wish to obtain a high school diploma. The Foundation works closely with numerous corporate sponsors to achieve its fundraising and educational goals.An independent review board oversees the scholarship program and determines the eligibility of applicants. The review board may also grant access to Higher Education Partner Programs on a test basis to qualified efforts and applicants. The Board votes on a simple majority basis within approximately one month after applications are collected.