J. Robert “Jay” Brown Jr., a Sturm College of Law professor since 1998, was appointed last week to a new Investor Advisory Committee, a 21-member body meant to advise the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Congress mandated the creation of the committee as a part of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act passed in July 2010.

“The purpose of the committee is to provide outside advice to the SEC about issues important to investors, including things like changes to the law,” said Brown.

The SEC is a federal agency with five commissioners whose role is to protect investors in the capital markets.

One of these five commissioners nominated Brown for a position in the committee, although Brown said he could not identify who it was. Brown has taught corporate and securites law for over 20 years. He also authored numerous articles about law and the Supreme Court.

“I think people know me because of the academic writing I do and because of my blogging on ‘The Race to the Bottom,” said Brown, referring to a blog focusing on analyzing laws and regulatory measures to govern corporations. “I talk a lot about issues important to shareholders, so people know I have a strong expertise on these matters.”

Brown said the Investor Advisory Committee includes people from a variety of companies and groups involved with investors. Brown is one of two law professors on the committee, along with Joseph Grundfest from Stanford Law School.

According to Brown, the committee has not met yet, but will probably meet for the first time within the next two months. When they meet, they will review Congressional requirements and establish what their goals and priorities are.

Brown said he believes participation in this committee will improve his teaching.

“It will help me become more involved in these issues on a national basis,” he said. “This will help my understanding of the law and my teaching. It might even help me give students better advice about jobs when they graduate law school.”

Brown served as an associate dean for academic affairs at Sturm College of Law from 2000-2004. He teaches classes in administrative law, comparative corporate law and securities regulation.