Brian was raised in a very small town called Yadkinville, in the tobacco state of North Carolina. Aching to experience a new way of life, he decided to make a giant leap from “The Town of Progress” to “The Big Apple.” In New York City he found himself and his passion for education.
Brian has worked in various educational enterprises. He has experience as a mentor to high school students throughout NYC via afterschool programming where he also taught music, theatre, art and dance. He worked as a Resident Advisor during his time at Marymount Manhattan College and created recreational, cultural, and educational programming geared towards LGBT students and their issues.
Upon completion of his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2002, Brian explored many areas of interest, but inevitably was led back to academia.
In 2004, he accepted the position as Assistant Director of Career Services at the Institute of Audio Research where he counseled students on resumes, career goals, and interviewing. This position provided him with an amazing opportunity to build upon skills in areas of project management, office coordination, and student counseling and inspired him to go back to school for his masters degree.
In 2005 Brian was accepted into the Higher Education Administration program in the School of Public Affairs at The City University of New York at Baruch College.
Following IAR, Brian accepted the position as the Counselor for Evening/Weekend Degrees and Precollege Programs at the Fashion Institute of Technology, SUNY in 2008. At FIT, Brian works with students of all ages (from middle school to seniors) and provides assistance on a plethora of issues including registration, enrollment, academic advisement, admissions, program coordination, and counseling to prospective, new and returning students. He is an advocate for Evening and Weekend Degree students through the School of Continuing and Professional Studies and acts on behalf of all part-time degree students who attend classes during the evenings and on the weekends. He also designed and created the department’s first website and completed a research project where he reported on the history of E/W Degree Programs at the institution.
Finally, Brian has experience in front of the classroom as well. In 2008, he was an Instructor for Freshman Seminar at Baruch College; a non-credit, mandatory course composed of 25 students designed to ensure the academic success of first year students by providing them with the tools they need to make informed decisions regarding their academic, personal, ethical and career choices.
In 2009, Brian, a first generation college student, graduated from Madison Square Garden where he was awarded the degree of Masters of Science in Education.
In the mix of these day-to-day endeavors, Brian has also been a member of various LGBT organizations. From 2005-2007, he was an active member of the Lesbian and Gay Big Apple Corps, one of the leading lesbian and gay musical organizations in the United States providing the LGBT community with a supportive and friendly environment for musical and artistic expression and, through performances all over the east coast, to promote social acceptance, equality, and harmony for all. He was also a founding member of EnGuard, the first Lesbian and Gay Winterguard/Colorguard in NYC promoting diversity and social acceptance through pageantry of the “sport of the arts.” He has raised thousands of dollars for such causes as Breast Cancer, HIV/Aids, and Marriage Equality.
Brian currently lives in Brooklyn, New York with Tom, his partner of 9 years, and his two cats Toby & Maude. After 10+ years, Brian considers himself a New Yorker, despite his southern accent. Brian is to be married to Tom on October 17, 2010 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico with a legal ceremony to take place in CT.
Brian is a fan of books, travel, music, theatre, board games, shopping, glue sticks, arts and crafts, activism, autumn, and enjoys spending time with his friends and family.