Today we’d like to introduce you to Shawn Brown.
Hi Shawn, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My name is Shawn Brown, and I’m a School Psychologist in Baltimore City Public Schools.
I grew up in Baltimore County, in the Woodlawn area. I was always a bigger/heavier kid but eventually turned to sports and fitness to lose weight. Sports and fitness have since become a passion in my life in which I continue to enjoy. In high school, I was heavily involved in sports; playing football, basketball, and lacrosse at Lansdowne High. I attended Lansdowne for their Academy of Finance program. In 10th grade, my path was shifted as I was diagnosed with Bipolar I disorder. I continued to play sports, but my focus turned to learning about mental health, emotional regulation, coping strategies, etc. At this time, I also began working with a psychiatrist who inspired me to want to help others with similar circumstances as mine. During my senior year of high school, I took an intro to psych class and the rest was history.
In 2017, I received my bachelor’s in psychology from Stevenson University. While at Stevenson, my passion for fitness, nutrition, and mental health grew (essentially a holistic approach to treatment). I then went on to pursue a master’s degree in school-psychology at Towson University. While at Towson, I began competing in CrossFit in order to fulfill my competitive void from sports. I competed in CrossFit for about 8 years while also learning the role of a School Psychologist in Baltimore City Public Schools (BCPSS). As life progressed, my wife and I welcomed our son into the world in 2022. Balancing the time commitment needed to be competitive in CrossFit, working as a full-time school psychologist, and being a dad and husband became hard to manage. So, I “retired” (lol) from the sport of CrossFit, and prioritized family and work in BCPSS.
I honestly began to feel a little lost and again needed a goal to chase after. I found bodybuilding and competed in my first show, in May 2026, at the Conqueror (Baltimore). I came in 2nd place, just missing out on earning my natural bodybuilding pro card. Of course being so close to winning and recognizing that I had potential in the sport, lit a fire in me. I then went on to compete at the Conqueror (Vegas), in which I won and earned my natural pro card. This win earned me a spot at the Yorton Championship, which is essentially the Super Bowl of the OCB natural bodybuilding federation. I’ll be competing at the Yorton on September 20, in Charlotte, NC. Bodybuilding has pushed me to limits that I didn’t know I could achieve. It has taught me a lot about myself and has been a catalyst in my journey with God.
Throughout this entire journey, I’ve become a personal trainer, a CrossFit coach, and have begun working to build an online fitness platform. Long-term, my wife and I aspire to open a gym in which I’d like to incorporate a holistic approach to helping clients.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t been a smooth road by any means, but keeping faith and trust in God’s plan has helped me get through every challenge along the way. I’ve come to learn that we will ALWAYS experience trials, but we need these trials in order to grow into the people we’re called to be.
Challenges include: navigating adulthood, paying bills, parenting, balancing career and personal goals, being a provider, and the ups and downs with my own mental health.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a full-time school psychologist in Baltimore City Public Schools. I am in my 7th year in the field.
I have my CrossFit L1 and coached Crossfit for 3 years at 12 Labours in Columbia (I don’t currently coach there anymore after I started pursuing bodybuilding – it was a lot to balance).
I currently have an online training business in which I help clients achieve their fitness goals through tailored meal plans and training programming.
I believe that one of my greatest skills is being able to connect with others and build strong relationships through active listening, loyalty, trust, and being able to have tough, open conversations.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
A lot of people may not know that I got into the field of psychology after battling my own mental health ailments. People don’t know that used to be a really big/heavy set kid, which led me to pursue health and fitness. Where I am now developed from the challenges that I’ve endured. I love learning and problem solving, which in turn helps me develop skills to help others. Through hard work, consistency, and faith, you can achieve anything.
Pricing:
- consult for pricing
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawn_dbrown?utm_source=qr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@shawn_dbrown?si=h4lupmSuMsANbSyI
