Biography
Merry Brown serves as the University Ombuds for UT Martin. She offers a confidential, independent, neutral, and informal place to talk through concerns and consider options. Her approach is practical and reflective. She listens, clarifies issues, explores pathways, and helps visitors think about next steps.
Merry is a listed Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 Civil Mediator, a member of the International Ombuds Association, and a board member of the Tennessee Association of Professional Mediators. She founded Third Party Workplace Conflict Restoration Services LLC, hosts the international podcast Conflict Managed, and writes about workplace culture and dialogue. Before this work, she taught philosophy for more than twenty years in St. Louis and in Martin, which continues to shape her commitment to open inquiry and respectful conversation.
Education
- BA in Philosophy and Psychology from Azusa Pacific University
- MA in Humanities with an emphasis in Philosophy from Western Kentucky University
Selected Publications, Articles & Presentations
- Brown, Merry. Winning the Generation Wars at Work: Making (Your) Age an Asset. YA Books, (forthcoming 2025).
- Brown, Merry. How to Be Unprofessional at Work: Tips to Ensure Failure. YA Books, 2023.
- Brown, Merry. “Gossip: Workplace Culture Destroyer.” International People and Culture Review, vol. 1, Aug. 2024, pp. 106–114. https://www.peopleprofessionals.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/IPCR-2024.pdf.
- Brown, Merry. “Planning to Transform Your Organisation?” Mediate.com, 29 Dec. 2022, https://mediate.com/planning-to-transform-your-organisation/
- Brown, Merry. “Don’t Wait For Others; Be The Change.” Mediate.com, 7 Nov. 2022, https://mediate.com/dont-wait-for-others-be-the-change/
- Brown, Merry. “For the Forces of Good, Indeed!” Mediate.com, 6 Oct. 2022, https://mediate.com/for-the-forces-of-good-indeed/
- Brown, Merry. “Let’s Normalise Having Difficult Conversations.” Mediate.com, 1 Aug. 2022, https://mediate.com/lets-normalise-having-difficult-conversations/