By Armida Yee-Muñoz
ATLANTA — Some people are born to leave a mark, and LaTonya Brown (A.S. '92, B.S.E. ’95, M.Ed. ’98) — an Honors College alum, coordinator for DeKalb County’s Early Intervention Program, founder and CEO of LB Legacy Network and GSU Alumni Board member — is undeniably one of them. From her early days as a young girl in DeKalb County grappling with her identity to becoming an educational powerhouse, Brown has proven that when life throws curveballs, you hit home runs.
“I coined myself as a very unlikely person,” Brown said. “I was constantly having to figure out who I was in the midst of not seeing reflections of people like me.”
Yet, unlikely as she may have once felt, Brown's journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Her drive to succeed — despite the challenges of her environment and personal struggles — demonstrates the power of perseverance. When her son was diagnosed with leukemia and her father with cancer, Brown didn't falter. She returned to Georgia, enrolled in classes at Perimeter College, and took her life by the reins.
For her, education isn’t just an escape. “I knew I needed to be successful, and school was that for me,” she said.
Fast forward to today, and Brown is not only a beacon of inspiration for many students but a tireless advocate for children’s education. As the coordinator for DeKalb County’s Early Intervention Program, she ensures that children don’t fall through the cracks.
“The idea is for everybody to land safely, not that everybody will land at the same time,” she said. It’s a philosophy that has guided her throughout her nearly 30-year career as an educator, administrator and district leader.
LaTonya Brown with the 2024 LB Legacy High School and College Scholarship awardees.
But Brown's influence doesn't stop there. In 2020, amid a pandemic that tested the resilience of students and educators alike, she decided to give herself a unique birthday present: LB Legacy Network Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to enhancing “the lives of youth through equity and inclusion by providing the necessary tools and experiences for them to become successful, contributing members of their families and community.”
“I was seeing firsthand what COVID-19 was doing to young adults and young students, and I was helping teachers overcome this. So I launched the organization.”
The nonprofit — named partly for her initials, partly for a young student, Lucian Bernard, whom she mentored as his “school mom” and as an abbreviation of “Limitless Boundaries” — focuses on providing scholarships, educational resources and mentoring support. Its mission? To make sure students, especially those from underserved communities, have the tools they need to succeed.
Her vision for LB Legacy is nothing short of ambitious. By the five-year mark, Brown hopes to be giving out $5,000 in scholarships annually and securing larger grants to expand the nonprofit’s reach.
“My next big step is when I decide to retire, I intend to make LB Legacy my work,” she said.
Brown's legacy echoes in the interactions with the GSU Honors College community. Reflecting on their first meeting, Honors College Dean Sarah Cook shared, “I first met LaTonya at a GSU football game. Immediately, I loved her generous spirit. Months later, when I learned about her foundation, I was not surprised. The foundation's purpose reflects LaTonya's life purpose — to empower others. After getting to know her well, I can tell you that every conversation with LaTonya is empowering.”
Brown's legacy, however, isn’t just about financial aid or academic programs. It's about something deeper, something she learned from an unforgettable lesson in a Georgia State University classroom. She recalls the late Eugen Schoenfeld, her GSU sociology professor, who shared a harrowing tale of survival during the Holocaust.
Honors College Dean Sarah Cook (left) with LaTonya Brown.
His story, Brown says, has stayed with her, a reminder of the strength of the human spirit and the lengths to which we will go to survive — and thrive.
Her passion for education, community-building and thriving is what makes Brown's work with LB Legacy so impactful. It’s about more than just academic success; it’s about instilling a lifelong commitment to giving back.
“When we have events, we encourage everybody to come out because we're synergizing to show you how to be involved in the community and what community service looks like.”
For Brown, the "dash" between life’s beginning and end is what counts the most. It’s about how we fill that space, how we choose to lead, live and — most importantly — love. Brown’s dash is filled with boundless compassion, unwavering dedication and limitless boundaries. And with LB Legacy, her impact will continue to ripple for generations to come.
"The dash from your life, beginning — end, everything in between belongs to yourself because it’s your life to lead and to live."
The Honors College at Georgia State University is a destination for high-achieving students who embody curiosity, take pride in their work and dream about how they can make an impact through their studies and careers. Its mission is to serve students in a welcoming space by engaging students’ curiosity, empowering them to achieve their highest potential and inspiring them to find their place in the world. Its students form life-long friendships, participate in community service, perform research, excel academically, explore their interests and chart their career paths.