Biography

Dyan Brasington, Vice President for Economic and Community Outreach (DECO) at Towson University, leads an initiative to create and expand partnerships for the University that meet the needs of the private sector and government organizations while fostering economic development in the region. Her responsibilities include managing an applied economics team who specialize in economic forecasting, market and fiscal impact studies and workforce studies. In addition, she manages the DECO team who provide a wide range of services to the greater community, including: information technology process and solutions, geographic information systems, graduate level applied IT courses and extended and continuing education courses. Under her guidance, Towson University launched Towson Global in 2007, an incubator focused on helping small businesses succeed in the global economy. Most recently, Dyan and her team unveiled TU in the Community, an interactive-searchable database that encompasses TU's community engagement research, projects, and people.

Brasington brings to Towson University more than 30 years combined experience in economic development, management and technology. In her most recent past position as the President of the Technology Council of Maryland, Dyan was responsible for the management, direction, strategic development and growth of the association, comprised of over 700 corporate member organizations. Brasington developed a strategic vision for the Council to provide long-term legacy planning. Her initiatives included an advocacy program, the development of a technology incubator, and the creation of the Maryland Angels Council (MAC), which helped to provide early stage capital for technology companies.

Brasington has developed and led government and private sector economic development agencies at the state, regional and local levels. Her experience includes being the Director of Economic Development for the State of West Virginia, the Director in Howard and Montgomery Counties, Maryland, and in Prince William County, Virginia. She has also served as an Industrial Representative for the Florida Department of Commerce.

Brasington is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), the professional designation in her field. She holds a Bachelors and Masters degree from Florida State University and is a graduate of the Economic Development Institute. Brasington served two terms on the Board of the Baltimore Branch of the Federal Reserve, and on the Board of Directors of Leadership Maryland. She has received recognition including being named one of Washington DC's 100 Most Influential Women, one of Maryland's Top 100 Women on three occasions, and the Maryland Circle of Excellence Award.

Brasington serves on several boards and committees including the Board of the International Development Council (IEDC), the scholarship committee and past President's Council for the Maryland Economic Developers Association (MEDA), the Board of Monument Bank, and the Maryland Construction Center for Education and Innovation.