The Santa Barbara Reciprocity Group Philanthropic Educational Organization (P.E.O.) has installed its new board — Janet Brown, president; Maryanna Gray, vice president; Ellen Duke, secretary; and Gail Fischer, treasurer.
Brown was raised in Santa Barbara and attended local schools including Santa Barbara Junior High and Santa Barbara High schools, Westmont College and UCSB, where she completed her Ph.D in education in 1992.
As an educator, Brown has found that embracing P.E.O.’s mission to encourage women’s education through scholarships to be a worthwhile and enjoyable way for her to serve her community.
P.E.O. is a philanthropic organization that has celebrated education for women for more than 150 years. By offering scholarships, grants, loans and the stewardship of Cottey College, the sisterhood has helped more 116,000 women by providing $383 million in education assistance.
There are seven local chapters in Santa Barbara, and over just the past year, they have given $20,000 in scholarships to women, locally and globally, for the education needed for personal fulfillment, as well as to enter and re-enter the work force.