Barry served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey from 1974 to 1983. She served in the civil division from 1974 to 1975. She served in the appeals division from 1976 to 1982, serving as deputy chief of that division from 1976 to 1977 and chief of that division from 1977 to 1982. She served as Executive Assistant United States Attorney from 1981 to 1982. She served as First Assistant United States Attorney from 1981 to 1983.[1]

Lisa J. Brown was born October 9, 1956 in Robinson, Illinois. She graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor's degree in sociology and economics. She earned a Master's degree and a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Outside of politics, Brown primarily worked in higher education, primarily as a professor and a university administrator. Brown began working as an associate professor of Economics at Eastern Washington University in 1981, a position she would hold until 2001. She served briefly as the interim director of the university's Women's Center in 1983.[4]

Around 1990, Brown traveled to Nicaragua to teach economics at the Central American University in Managua, where she supported the Sandinista government. When the conservative National Opposition Union won power in 1990, Brown expressed worry that the new leaders would walk back the partially state-run command economy, replacing it with a more conservative, market-based economy.[5]

Brown also worked as a professor in organizational leadership at Gonzaga University from 2001 until 2012.[1][2] She became the Chancellor of Washington State University Spokane in 2013 after leaving the State Senate. As chancellor, Brown oversaw the creation of the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, the first medical school in the Washington State University system and the second public medical school in the state. The school opened in 2015 and its inaugural class was seated in the fall of 2017.[6]

In 2016, Brown accompanied former Lieutenant Governor of Washington Brad Owen to Cuba on a fact-finding trip concerning healthcare. Upon return, Brown praised aspects of the community-based Cuban healthcare system in an interview. In the same interview, Brown stated that aspects of the Cuban model should be used in the United States.[7]

Brown was first elected to the state legislature in 1992. She received 46.51% of the vote out of a 5 candidate field (which included 4 fellow Democrats) during the September primary election. In the November general election, she defeated Republican Chuck Potter by receiving 64.48% of the vote to Potter's 35.52%. She was reelected in 1994, receiving 64.55% to Republican John G. Titchenal's 35.45%.[8] Brown was named minority floor leader at the start of her second term.[9]