In each of her undergraduate courses she infuses her lesson plans with a focus on social justice and diversity. Brea also serves as the internship coordinator; making connections to artists and arts organizations to create working experiences for her students. In her teaching and research Brea pays particular attention to the professional development of arts administrators, focusing on the initial stages of early career training and socialization. Brea also works as a consultant for nonprofit arts organizations. Her recent projects have focused on volunteer management and board development. Brea earned her PhD in Arts Administration, Education & Policy from The Ohio State University, where her research focused on arts advocacy arguments at the federal level. Her other research interests include human resources issues, cultural policy at the state and federal levels, and cultural diplomacy.