and studied and taught an economics class at Central American University in Managua. When the conservative National Opposition Union won power in 1990, Brown expressed worry that the new leaders would walk back the partially state-run command economy, replacing it with a more conservative, market-based economy. Brown also worked as a professor in organizational leadership at Gonzaga University from 2001 until 2012. She became the Chancellor of Washington State University Spokane in 2013 after leaving the state senate. As chancellor, Brown oversaw the creation of the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, the first medical school in the Washington State University system and the second public medical school in the state. The school opened in 2015 and its inaugural class was seated in the fall of 2017. In 2016, Brown accompanied former Lieutenant Governor of Washington Brad Owen to Cuba on a fact-finding trip concerning healthcare. Upon return, Brown praised aspects of the community-based Cuban healthcare system in an interview. In the same interview, Brown stated that aspects of the Cuban model should be used in the United States. Washington Governor Jay Inslee appointed Brown as director of the Department of Commerce on January 29, 2019. Her term began on February 11. On February 13, 2023, Brown announced she would step down as director on March 3 of the same year. Her decision has led to speculation over a potential run from Brown for Mayor of Spokane in the 2023 election. Washington State Legislature House of Representatives Brown was first elected to the state legislature in 1992. She received 46.51% of the vote out in a field of five candidates (which included four fellow Democrats) during the September primary election. In the November general election, she defeated Republican Chuck Potter by receiving 64.48% of the vote to Potter's 35.52%. She was reelected in 1994, receiving 64.55% to Republican John G. Titchenal's 35.45%. Brown was named minority floor leader at the start of her second term. Committee assignments First term: Committee on Transportation, Vice-Chair Committee on Revenue Committee on Human Services Second term: Committee on Transportation Committee on Children and Family Services Rules Committee State senate Brown announced she would challenge one-term incumbent John A. Moyer in the 1996 election on April 22, 1996. In her announcement, she named education and welfare as her two major priorities for the campaign and her tenure. Due to Moyer's perceived vulnerability and the potential