Like many of Columbia GS’s nontraditional students, Brewer worked full time while attaining her B.A. in urban studies on a part-time basis. She also returned to Columbia in 2002 to teach a junior colloquium in urban studies at the School of International and Public Affairs.
“Columbia’s commitment to returning and nontraditional students is unparalleled, and I am honored to be present for the School of General Studies’ Class Day. Increasingly, older, wiser, and more experienced students are entering higher education—demonstrating that learning truly is a lifelong process. I cherished my time at Columbia all the more with perspective from the wider world and with a clear sense of what I wanted to accomplish,” Brewer said.
Prior to her role as Manhattan Borough President, Brewer served on the New York City Council for 12 years from 2002 through 2013, representing the Sixth Council District, which includes most of the Upper West Side and northern Clinton. As Councilmember, she successfully passed legislation guaranteeing paid sick leave for most hourly employees, compelling landlords to fix repeat violations, requiring all City data be published online, and the nation’s first law protecting domestic workers. She was the founding chair of the Council’s Technology Committee in 2002.
Immediately prior to her election to the City Council, Brewer served as project manager for the New York City Nonprofits Project at CUNY’s Graduate Center, and before that worked for the Telesis Corporation, a private firm that builds affordable housing in New York City.
In addition to serving as the Borough President, Brewer also co-teaches a class in urban policy each spring with former Borough President Messinger as part of Hunter College’s Public Service Scholar program, and has taught urban affairs at other area colleges, including Barnard, Baruch, Brooklyn and Queens Colleges.
In addition to attaining a B.A., Brewer earned a Master of Public Administration from the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government.
