Kiara Brown

Kiara Brown assumed the role of chief of staff at CalArts in 2022, following her tenure as director of Board Governance and Relations. In her current role, Kiara orchestrates the administrative functions of the President’s Office, directs senior leadership strategies, and fosters seamless communication across sectors for critical projects and initiatives. 

Her leadership has been pivotal in enhancing the Board of Trustees’ diversity, navigating unprecedented financial challenges during the pandemic, and spearheading transformative initiatives such as the establishment of the Office of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) and securing increased endowment draw for scholarships supporting underrepresented minority students.

Prior to her tenure at CalArts, Kiara worked at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, where her accomplishments included significant budget increases, prestigious community science accolades, and fostering robust trustee engagement. She played a crucial role in the museum’s centennial celebration and championed initiatives promoting community engagement, accessibility, inclusion, and diversity.

Kiara holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from San Francisco State University and is an alum of Southern California Leadership Network and the Los Angeles African American Public Policy Institute. Beyond her professional achievements, she serves as a board member of the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce and is a dedicated advocate and fundraiser for the Lupus Foundation of America, driven by personal connections to the cause as the daughter of a lupus survivor.