Dr. Harold Brown Hall
For more than two decades, Dr. Harold Brown helped shape Columbus State Community
College as an educator, administrator, and leader. He believed in the transformative
power of education and dedicated his career to making that belief a reality.
Now, Columbus State proudly honors his legacy by naming Brown Hall in recognition of his extraordinary service to the college, his commitment to student success, and his lasting impact on our community.
Shaping Columbus State
Dr. Brown joined what was then the Columbus Area Technician School in 1965 as chair of the Electronics Department and eventually becoming the Vice President of Student Affairs.
At a time when the institution was still in its earliest years, he helped build programs designed to prepare students for meaningful careers and meet the workforce needs of a growing region. At a time of transformation in the college’s history, Dr. Brown stepped up as a leader with a sense of humor. He and President Harold Nestor famously referred to themselves as "Harold Minority and Harold Majority," a reflection of their friendship and their mutual respect.
A Career of Service
As a fighter pilot during World War II, he flew 30 combat escort missions over Germany before being shot down and taken prisoner in 1945. After the war, he continued serving in the U.S. Air Force, eventually bringing him to Central Ohio through an assignment at Lockbourne Air Force Base.
Every day, students from every background come to Columbus State to pursue careers, transfer to four-year universities, support their families and build brighter futures.
Brown Hall stands as a reminder that opportunity grows when people invest in one another.
It honors not only Dr. Brown's remarkable life, but also the values he lived every day: service, leadership, perseverance and an unwavering belief in the power of education to transform lives.
In the news
A legacy etched in campus history: Columbus State dedicates Brown Hall
