Jacklyn Brown ‘21, MBA ‘22, has taken the lead on the Panthers’ field hockey team, in the classroom as a business management and marketing major, and in the community.
Jacklyn Brown ’21, MBA ’22
That’s why she earned Adelphi’s Female Panther Leadership Award twice and was honored as the Northeast-10 Woman of the Year for 2022.
Growing up in Port Jefferson, New York, she didn’t have to look far for a role model. Her mother, Debbie, was her field hockey coach for six years and is also a breast cancer survivor.
“My mom got me into the sport when I was super young,” Brown said. I saw how she took the lead and helped others, and I’ve always wanted to follow in her footsteps. Watching her overcome breast cancer showed me that with a strong mind, you can accomplish anything.
”Brown’s memorable moments on the field include Adelphi’s 5-0 victory over then-No. 1-ranked Stonehill in her sophomore year and the Panthers’ appearance in the NCAA Division II tournament in her final year.
“Sports are a great way to develop leadership skills and team-bonding skills,” she said. “Being able to speak up, take the lead and know that your voice matters are things that will definitely help you later on.”
As president of Adelphi’s Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and vice president of the Northeast-10 Conference SAAC, Brown made sure students’ voices were heard on pertinent issues.
“I wanted to have a leadership role with SAAC to raise awareness on a lot of issues, like social justice, and make a positive impact,” she said.
Brown also took the lead in organizing charitable events, volunteer efforts and fundraising activities that benefited numerous groups, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, Ronald McDonald House Charities, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, Island Harvest and a Ukrainian church on Long Island that sent supplies to Ukraine after the Russian invasion. Like her mother, she also coaches youth field hockey part time.
“Nothing feels better than giving back,” Brown says. “One small act of kindness can change the world.
”Now that she’s earned two degrees from Adelphi, Brown is moving on to the next phase of her life. “My ideal career path would be in the event planning field in areas like professional sports or nonprofits,” she said. “My cousin works for the National Hockey League, and I would love to do things around fan engagement. I love planning events, and I had many opportunities to do that at Adelphi.”
Nothing feels better than giving back. One small act of kindness can change the world.