Vicki Brown-Mowery retires after 25 years of service to University

Vicki Brown-Mowery started her career at ECE as an intern, and ended as a full-time employee for nearly 25 years. She started working with Professor Ed Mast in the Associate Head’s Office in 1986 as an intern to complete her degree from Parkland College. When her internship was complete, she was hired full time in 1987 in the Department Head’s Office.

During her time in that office, Brown-Mowery worked with four department heads: Professors Timothy N Trick, Sung-Mo “Steve” Kang, Mark Kushner, and Richard E Blahut. She finished out her career as an office administrator for Professor James Gary Eden, Dr. Sung-Jin Park, and the Laboratory of Optical Physics and Engineering.

Brown-Mowery found great satisfaction in being a part of the changing times and technology at ECE ILLINOIS. “It has been exciting to be part of the technological changes and some of the research that is changing our world,” she said.

Brown-Mowery enjoyed helping others around the office, whatever the need—and her effort did not go unnoticed. At a reception held in her honor on June 20, Eden said he felt fortunate to have worked with Brown-Mowery in her final years at ECE. “We have felt very privileged to have her work with our laboratory,” he said. “She has literally been my life-saver in working through [software] and has basically been the heart and soul of the laboratory.”

Now that she is retiring, Brown-Mowery is ready to spend time with her seven grandchildren. “I’ve missed enough ball games and school plays, and it is time for me to enjoy that side of life,” she said.

She is looking forward to family time, reading, and playing golf after retirement.