A 1988 graduate of Mercer Island High School is making his mark in education in the Puget Sound area.

Dr. Warren Brown credits his education on the Island for cultivating his passion for learning and helping other students succeed.

“Mercer Island High School helped shape my career path,” he said.

There are a lot of wonderful teachers on Mercer Island, he said, adding that one special teacher, band director Lylburn Layer, played a large part in his high school experience.

“Mr. Lylburn Layer was a great role model for me — he understood how to make each teaching moment special and how to keep young people actively engaged in their learning. Also, I observed how Mr. Layer played both the role of a great teacher and a great administrator as he moved into the role of being an assistant principal,” he said. “In my work as a college administrator, I try to stay connected to students’ learning experiences, just as Mr. Layer was able to do.”

Now Dr. Brown is applying those lessons to his new role as vice president of Seattle Central Community College, where he’ll work administratively and connect with more than 5,300 full-time students.

The job opening at Seattle Central Community College interested Brown because “Seattle is a vibrant place to live and work, and it’s a great place to connect to employers and address students’ needs.”

The job, he said, involves working with many different kinds of people.

“(Layer) also worked behind the scenes, but was very present in the lives of his students,” Dr. Brown said of his high school mentor.

Prior to his position as VP of Seattle Central, Dr. Brown earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Washington, a master’s degree at Portland State University, and a doctorate at the University of Washington, as well as teaching at two and four-year universities.

Dr. Brown lives with his wife in the Poulsbo area and still comes to the Island to visit his parents and stop at Baskin-Robbins — a favorite high school hangout — for a scoop of ice cream.