Faces of Brown: Gail Medbury of Rental Facilities

Faces of Brown is an occasional feature to introduce the Brown community to colleagues.

A handful of people feel the pulse of Brown. They know who is moving in and who is moving out. They know what is being bought, and what is on the market. They know which items are stored in attics, locked in basements and hidden in closets. And when they cross campus, everyone – students, staff, faculty and administrators – says hello.

Gail Medbury is one of those people. She oversees all of Brown’s rental facilities (involving about 160 tenants), and helps the top brass settle in. “My job is to keep the plumbing humming and the rent coming,” jokes Medbury, now in her 33^rd year at Brown.

Medbury works with and serves the spectrum of Brunonians. She is also familiar with local contractors, firefighters and letter carriers. “Part of my job is to know folks,” she said. "I know every postman who delivers to our properties. They will tell me if something is wrong, or if someone doesn’t pick up the mail.”

Medbury is part hotel manager and part concierge. It’s a 24-hour-a-day job. On a frigid night in 1989, the boiler blew at 20 Olive St. Although it was 2:30 a.m., Medbury arranged for the building’s occupants to spend the night at an India Point hotel.

“Gail knows how to get things done,” said assistant Betty Cotoia. The two have worked side by side for 18 years. “I love my job and I love coming to work for Gail,” said Cotoia, who also manages Brown’s visiting scholar houses. “What stands out about Gail is her compassion. I watch students come in to speak with her. She is very patient. Gail will sit and listen, and hand a crying student a tissue. She goes out of her way to take care of people.”

Real estate is big business on the East Side and Medbury’s office serves as Brown’s real estate operation – buying and selling local property. She also maintains a listing service for private off-campus housing.

Her responsibilities demand that she be flexible and move quickly. This time last year, as she prepared to meet her new boss for the first time (Vice President of Administration Walter Hunter), Medbury received a call about a water leak at an off-campus property. “Dressed up,” as she calls it, Medbury rushed to the Bowen Street address. There, water and pieces of ceiling plaster cascaded upon her. Soaked, Medbury combed the house, found the leak, shut off the water, and headed to her introductory meeting with Hunter.

Notorious for being late to meetings, Medbury had a good excuse this time: She had to wait for the damage to be repaired and the mess cleaned up.

“I can’t always have a regular schedule,” said Medbury. “But we are very committed to providing good customer service.” – Scott J. Turner