Kyria Brown

• BA in Gender and Women’s Studies, University of Wyoming
• MSW (Organizational Leadership and Policy Practice), University of Denver
• MPH (Health Equity in Maternal and Child Health), University of Colorado-Anschutz
• PhD in Social Work, Washington University in Saint Louis

Kyria is The Writing Center’s Brown School and School of Public Health specialist, offering writing and public-speaking support to all Brown School and School of Public Health students via a dedicated schedule in our scheduling system. 

During her time as a graduate student, Dr. Brown was a Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Fellow. In  2024-2025, she was also The Writing Center’s Dr. Burton Pu Distinguished Fellow. Read more about the Dr. Burton Pu Distinguished Fellowship here.

Dr. Brown’s research interests revolve around perinatal harm reduction and the criminalization of pregnancy. Before coming to WashU, Kyria worked as a birth doula for about a decade and will forever consider herself a birth nerd. Dr. Brown taught in the Wyoming Prison Education Project, and has assisted in many courses at the Brown School, including MPH Research Methods, Social Justice and Human Diversity, and Principles, Practices, and Services in Substance Use Disorder Treatment. Additionally, she has taught Substance Use Policy at the Brown School.

Her dissertation, “Innovation and Advocacy in Perinatal Harm Reduction by Birth Workers and Perinatal Workforce Providers: A Qualitative Study Utilizing Narrative Inquiry,”interviewed the birth professionals who are doing the work of perinatal harm reduction every day to ascertain how the birth system can and needs to transform to stop harming birthing people who use substances. She is looking forward to remaining active in her research area and in the harm reduction community.

In her spare time, you can find Kyria hanging out with her kids, at the botanical gardens, reading (and reading at the botanical gardens!), trying (and failing) to learn a new language—currently French and ASL—and making lists about all the hobbies she wants to try now that she’s done with her PhD.

What brought you to The Writing Center? 
The first time I used a writing center I had just returned to college to finish my undergraduate degree—years after I completed an associate degree. By a stroke of luck, a professor recommended the writing center. I continued using the writing center throughout my undergrad and at the universities where I got my MSW and MPH. When I came to WashU, one of the first things I did was search for The Writing Center. I met with Jo (the first Brown School Specialist) and never looked back. As soon as I could, I applied to be a Graduate Fellow. When Jo was transitioning to her new role as Undergraduate Support Coordinator, I jumped at the chance to become the Brown School Specialist. I love working with Brown School and School of Public Health students as the Brown School and School of Public Health Specialist.

What do you like most about working with writers at The Writing Center? 
I love watching students realize that they are experts in their writing. As a tutor, you can see their writing confidence growing. I also love working on a project long-term with a student and getting the opportunity to get to know them and their work. What I love the most about working at The Writing Center is being able to work with students in an academic third space instead of having to evaluate their work.

What do you find most challenging about writing? 
The starting period before I know the shape that the writing will take. I can never describe it, but I always reach a point where something clicks, and I know where the piece is going. Everything seems to fall into place after that—not that writing is ever effortless, but it’s like I suddenly have a map. Before that moment, though? It can feel almost physically painful to keep writing and getting stuff down on the page, hoping I reach that magic moment.

What advice do you have for writers? 
Write it wrong first. As someone who has struggled with it, perfectionism will only hinder your writing. Writing it wrong or even setting a timer and making yourself write without stopping, will get you further faster than waiting for the perfect words.