Dr. Danita M. Brown Young is currently the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Before moving to Champaign, she served as Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Prior to that position, she worked in student affairs at Purdue University, including serving as the youngest and first African American (and first African American woman) Dean of Students at Purdue. Dr. Brown Young holds a B.A. in sociology from Kent State University, an M.A. in community counseling from Loyola University Chicago, and earned her Ph.D. in higher education administration from Ohio University. Dr. Brown Young is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; Links, Incorporated; NASPA; and ACPA. She was awarded the NASPA Pillar of the Profession award in 2021. She is currently serving as NASPA Board Chair.

With over 20 years of experience in student affairs in higher education, Dr. Brown Young is an accomplished ambassador for students, and understands the critical role student affairs must play in successfully meeting the land-grant promises of educational access and opportunity to help create a more socially just society.