Name: Lavell Payne Brown, Esq.
Occupation: Associate Vice President, NF Litigation
Employer: Nationwide
Name of High School and location: Martinsville High School, Martinsville, Virginia
Name of College #1 and location: The University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
Name of College #2 and location: The University of Akron School of Law, Akron, Ohio
Name of your favorite teacher and what made the person special to you (any grade level, including college): My favorite teacher was Professor Lisa Woolfork at UVA. She made learning engaging and assigned compelling and interesting works. I double majored in English and African & African American studies at UVA as a direct result of how much I enjoyed my experience in her course.
What were some of your most enjoyable times in school (any grade level): I was an alto saxophone player and drum major in high school and loved every minute of concert and marching band from middle school through college.
Looking back over the years, what advice would you give to your high school self or college self: I would tell high school Lavell not to doubt herself. Dreams truly come true if you commit to your goals and continue to believe in yourself and your abilities. I would tell her that the helpers will come along the way, and not to lose hope.
The reason(s) you are raising funds to support Project GRAD Akron ’s scholarships and programs: I'm raising funds for Project GRAD Akron because I believe education is a fundamental right and creates opportunities.
Favorite quote: “Now is the accepted time, not tomorrow, not some more convenient season. It is today that our best work can be done and not some future day or future year. It is today that we fit ourselves for the greater usefulness of tomorrow. Today is the seed time, now are the hours of work, and tomorrow comes the harvest and the playtime.” - W.E.B. DuBois
Anything else you would like to share or highlight: I truly believe that every human is a learner who is capable of great things. The only thing that sets us apart is opportunity and access.