Fran’Cee Brown-McClure

Creating a sense of belonging on campus is at the heart of Student Affairs, and few understand this better than Fran’Cee Brown-McClure, Associate Vice President & Dean of Students at Louisiana State University (LSU). With nearly two decades of experience in Higher Education (HE), she has dedicated her career to supporting students, fostering leadership, and ensuring that campus communities are inclusive and engaging.

In this conversation, Fran’Cee sits down with Jack Eagle, Co-Host of The Interview, to reflect on her transition to LSU, the importance of emotional intelligence in student development, and the ways she encourages students to engage in meaningful dialogue across differences. She also shares insights on student leadership, the evolving challenges of campus culture, and the personal philosophy that guides her work.

Fran’Cee’s Journey

Jack: Let’s start with an introduction to your current role and institution.

My name is Fran’Cee Brown-McClure, and I’m the Associate Vice President and Dean of Students at Louisiana State University. I’ve been in this role for about eight months, but I’ve worked in Student Affairs and HE for 19 years.

I’m originally from Texas and attended Jackson State University, a historically Black college in Mississippi, for my undergraduate studies. That experience completely changed my life. I was deeply involved – joining a sorority, serving as president, working as a student recruiter – just fully engaged in campus life. I had some amazing professionals pour into me, shaping me into the person and professional I am today.

At the time, I had no idea what Student Affairs was. I majored in psychology and planned to become a clinician. I even earned a master’s in social work before realizing it wasn’t the right path for me. Thankfully, someone suggested Student Affairs, and that’s how I found my way into the field.

Jack: You’re in your first year at LSU – how has the transition been for you?

It’s been a really good transition. I actually made an intentional decision before coming here. I was a Vice President at two institutions prior to LSU, but I stepped into this role to prioritize my wellbeing and my daughter. She’s 15 and a sophomore in high school, so I don’t have much time left with her at home before she heads off to college. I wanted to continue doing the work I love while also caring for myself in a new way.

Since I’ve worked at public institutions before – Jackson State and the University of Texas, where I earned my doctorate – the shift to LSU wasn’t difficult in that sense. But LSU has a unique culture, being in South Louisiana with a deep-rooted athletic tradition. That’s been a learning experience. Fortunately, people here have been incredibly welcoming, and the students have been fantastic. This move has been exactly what I needed.

Jack: A huge part of Student Affairs is fostering a sense of belonging on campus. How do you approach that?

I believe in making myself visible and accessible before students need me. From the moment I started at LSU, I made sure to show up – attending leadership events, engaging with student organizations, and introducing myself so students knew who I was.

Intentional conversations and interactions are key. I often start with larger group settings and then follow up with individual students who want to connect. Just before this interview, I spoke with a student group, and one of them reached out afterward to schedule a one-on-one conversation. I love that. I want students to know they can reach out, but I also challenge them to think about their roles in shaping campus culture. For student leaders, I emphasize accountability – understanding that leadership is a privilege entrusted to them by their peers. It’s all about presence, engagement, and reinforcing how much their contributions matter.

Jack: Student Affairs covers a lot. What are your other focus areas?

One area I’m particularly passionate about is emotional intelligence. I wrote my dissertation on emotional intelligence in student leaders, and it’s something I actively integrate into my work.

Right now, there’s a big push for career readiness in HE. Employers want students to develop essential workplace skills, and research shows that emotional intelligence is an area where this generation of students is struggling. Some of that stems from the pandemic – many spent years in isolation, relying on technology rather than face-to-face interactions.

I focus on helping students develop self-awareness, motivation, empathy, and communication skills. I encourage them to reflect on how others perceive them versus how they see themselves. I ask them to consider what truly motivates them – beyond just financial goals. And I emphasize empathy, which is critical for building inclusive communities. Communication is another big one – so much of students’ communication happens electronically now. I always try to meet with them in person when possible, because face-to-face interactions are so different from texts or emails. My goal is to help students not just become better leaders or students, but better human beings.

Jack: Speaking across difference is a huge part of that emotional intelligence piece. What initiatives do you have in place to support that?

We actively encourage engagement, conversation, and dialogue. Often, students come to me upset about something another group has said, demanding that they be “canceled.” But I challenge them to think differently – does canceling someone actually change their perspective? Or would a conversation be more productive?

I co-facilitate an Introduction to Student Affairs course with Brandon Common, who has appeared on this series before. One of our class activities focuses on talking across differences. We help students see that even if they hold opposing views, they may be driven by similar values. We also celebrate moments when students change their minds during discussions – something society often stigmatizes as indecision when, in reality, it’s growth.

Beyond the classroom, we’re launching workshops and institutes to create more opportunities for these conversations. Our fraternity and sorority life community, for example, is being encouraged to work across councils instead of staying siloed. Next weekend, we’ll see this in action at our Empower Institute for new Greek students on campus. The goal is to expand their perspectives and help them build more inclusive communities.

‍Jack: What piece of advice would you most like to pass on to others in the sector?

A college professor once told me, “Setbacks are setups for comebacks.” That advice has stayed with me. In any field, it’s easy to see challenges as the end of the road. But I tell students all the time – failure isn’t defeat; it’s an opportunity. When setbacks happen, the key is to pause, reflect on what went wrong, and recalibrate. That mindset shift has been invaluable for me, and I try to pass it on to as many students as I can.