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Downtown Center
Brooke Janik
Brooke Janik is a mentor, a motivator, and a model of growth. Her journey at SPC reflects what it means to lead with heart and purpose. Over nearly 13 years, Brooke has grown from Advisor to Student Support Manager to Associate Provost at the Downtown Center, where she now leads a student affairs team with compassion, intention, and a deep commitment to student success.
What makes SPC so special to Brooke? The transformative impact on the community and the family-like bond among colleagues. “It’s so impactful and so special to be part of something that helps students achieve their goals. It feels like more than a workplace, it feels like family. We lead with care and compassion and that shines through in how we support one another.”
Her leadership is rooted in these values but also shaped by experience. After the loss of her husband, Brooke found strength in her SPC family, surrounding her with love and support. Her Provost, Dr. Keron Jean-Baptiste, told her, “We’ll fill in the gaps. You take care of what you need to.” That moment became a turning point in her leadership style. “It inspired me to carry the same philosophy forward with my own team, where they know we are a family here and we support one another through our highs and our lows.”
Brooke considers her proudest accomplishments to be the people she’s supported throughout her career. In her early student-facing roles, she invested time and care in her students. Now, she brings that same dedication to her team—whom she affectionately refers to as her “caseload.” She treats her staff with the same care she once gave to students, always striving to see their potential and acting as their biggest cheerleader.
A true role model for professional growth, Brooke leads by example.
She is currently in her capstone course, preparing to submit her dissertation proposal and earn her doctorate. At the root of inspiration is her daughter, Brighton. “I want to be someone she is proud of. She inspires me to come here every day and do what I do.”
Her journey is also shaped by mentors and colleagues who saw her potential and helped her grow, such as Dr. Griffith who encouraged her to step into leadership. “She saw something in me, and that shaped how I try to see the growth and potential in my own team.”
She also credits her original SPC crew—Dr. Kellie Ziemak, Frank Jurdovic, and Dr. Mark Strickland—for their ongoing inspiration and collaboration.
Brooke’s story reminds us that when you lead with love and lift with intention, you can create a lasting legacy.
