A bubbly Judge Yvette McGee Brown left her robes by her gavel to speak with a full house of graduate and professional minority students at the Holiday Inn on Lane Avenue.
Brown is the first African American and second woman elected to the Franklin County Common Pleas Court, Domestic Relations and Juvenile Court.
At the 30th annual Minority Graduate and Professional Student Orientation and Reception hosted by the Office of Minority Affairs, Brown’s words were insightful to students starting and returning to graduate school at Ohio State.
“You are here at this institution because you deserve to be here.”
Brown said her experience as a professional student was one of fear that motivated her to study and get through the trials and tribulations of being one of only 40 African American students of the 600 students.
“I was so afraid that people were looking at me and saying I don’t belong here and I almost believed them,” Brown said. “I was not, however, one of those people that needed affirmative action to be my blanket. I studied hard and I found out that I was smart.”
The meeting was to give information and advice on graduate or professional schooling but also to congratulate minority students on the substantial accomplishments that brought them to OSU to further their education.
Robica Garner, a first year law student, said that she is excited to be a part of Ohio State and enjoys learning about different levels of graduate work.
“Coming to this meeting gives me a chance to meet other people of minority not only at a social level but an educational level as well.”
Listening to Brown, students laughed and understood where Brown was coming from because she once was in the same position.
Brown started at OSU Law School nineteen years ago, and she quickly learned how to get through the tough times, she said.
“There is no shame in connecting yourselves with the smartest people in the class, that is what I did,” Brown said, laughing. “Also I want you to know you did not come here to find a boyfriend or girlfriend, you came to work hard.”
The audience applauded Brown’s words of wisdom, confidence and determination for the students in the room.
A native of Columbus, Brown was a graduate of Mifflin High School. She received her undergraduate degree in Journalism and Public Relations at Ohio University in 1982. The College of Law at OSU presented her with the Juris Doctorate in 1985.
Brown said she is doing exactly what she dreamed and she wishes the same for all students.
