Shelly Brown
Startable Program Manager
Hometown: Penn Hills; by way of Clairton, Pennsylvania
What makes you the best person for your role?
Shelly spent her early professional career as a Pittsburgh Police Officer and was in the first cohort of Community Oriented Police Officers, learning the value of the community’s voice and the need for greater advocacy for children and families impacted by domestic violence and homelessness. She channeled that awareness into supporting children and families as a board member for the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Homeless Children’s Education Fund. Shelly also worked in higher education as a counselor and currently teachers at Penn State University. Shelly attended Duquesne University, earning BS and MS degrees in Elementary Education and Educational Leadership, and maintains certification as a K-6 teacher. Shelly is currently ABD in Education Leadership, also from Duquesne University.
What is your favorite thing about working with startups?
Shelly enjoys introducing young people to new challenges in STEM and exposing them to emergent entrepreneurial opportunities. She is passionate about connecting students to the needs within their communities… what can we solve today? To that end, she encourages them to think broadly and universally about their design concepts and applications – innovation with purpose beyond profit.
What do you love about living and working in Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh is an amazing collage of old and new, traditional and cutting edge, and filled with hard-working people of every hue. Pittsburgh believes in the power of nonprofits and purpose; they collectively strive to effect real change across communities.
Where can we find you outside of work?
Shelly is a lifelong resident of Western Pennsylvania and a proud graduate of Clairton High School… Go Bears! Shelly and her husband, Emmett, have four children and love being grandparents. Shelly loves to travel and aspires to be a professional genealogist.