James Brown

James Brown has spent more than two decades building and leading organizations at the intersection of science, technology, and ethics. Most recently, he co-founded and serves as CEO of Agathos Biologics, a West Fargo–based biotechnology company focused on increasing access to life-saving therapies while addressing ethical challenges in biomanufacturing.

Prior to forming Agathos, Dr. Brown was a member of the senior leadership team at Aldevron, serving as President of the Research Grade Nucleic Acids Business Unit after his role as Vice President, Corporate Development. During his tenure from 2015 to 2021, the company grew employment eightfold and executed two private equity transactions. He led innovative client engagements, including some of the first mRNA projects for Moderna and other clients. Prior to Aldevron, Dr. Brown joined Regenxbio in 2008 as the company's second employee, serving as Vice President of Technical Operations. He helped build the team that supported the company's growth through its Series C, mezzanine financing, and IPO. At both Regenxbio and Aldevron, his leadership and collaborations laid the manufacturing groundwork for programs that would become successful pharmaceutical products, including Zolgensma and Luxturna. Before joining Aldevron, Dr. Brown was part of the leadership team that launched Meso Scale Discovery, a successful analytical instrumentation company, in 1998.

In addition to his industry experience, Dr. Brown has a strong commitment to education and mentorship. He has served as an adjunct professor, supervised and developed early-career scientists, created internship programs, and volunteered for many years as a Stanford undergraduate admissions interviewer. He currently serves on the board of the NDSU Research Foundation and has been an active member of the Fargo-Moorhead community for the past decade. He received his bachelor's degree in chemistry from Butler University, where he graduated cum laude with highest honors in chemistry, and later earned a doctorate in biophysical chemistry from Stanford University.

Dr. Brown joined the Honors College as founding executive director in February 2026 and welcomed the inaugural cohort of outstanding first-year students the following fall. He recruited and hired college staff and faculty fellows to serve as mentors for students in their coursework and co-curricular activities. He is dedicated to promoting the Honors College mission of optimism, gratitude, and an abundance mindset, and he is committed to creating unique, transformative educational experiences that enable students to boldly engage challenges with confidence and make a meaningful impact on the world.