By Norm Miller, LC communications
PINEVILLE (LC News) – On March 5, 2015, the Louisiana College Board of Trustees unanimously elected Dr. Rick Brewer as the ninth president of LC. On April 7, Brewer officially took office.
A year ago, Brewer shared his vision for the college with trustees, faculty, staff, students and local media, saying he initially would “listen, learn and lead.”
Brewer did lots of listening. He met with small groups on campus that represented LC’s various academic and administrative leaders and members.
Proving his claim to be student-centric, Brewer — on the night of his election — met with students for coffee and conversation in the inaugural “Brewing with Brewer” get-together. He continues to attend other student activities.
From Tennessee to Texas and across the Bayou State, Brewer has met with alumni groups, has preached, led worship, played piano concerts, and met with pastors, parents and prospective students — all the while listening carefully to the heartbeat of the Louisiana College family.
Undaunted by the vestige of problems that hampered the college in the few years prior to his arrival, Brewer used the listening sessions for assessment, planning and developing rebuilding strategies.
“I discovered a vast group of people who love Louisiana College deeply, and who are willing to move the college forward again,” Brewer said.
And move forward it has. LC’s stakeholders have rallied around Brewer and adopted his vision for preparing graduates and transforming lives. Since Brewer’s arrival, the college has received more than $5 million in gifts, which is in addition to funds received through the Cooperative Program of the Louisiana Baptist Convention.
“I could not be more thankful for the faithful and continual support of LBC churches, who embrace the vital role the college serves in educating students with curricula that are based on a Christian worldview and are relevant, relational and rigorous,” Brewer said.
Job number one for Brewer was answering accreditation concerns. Brewer and his administrative team accomplished that, and LC’s probation was lifted December 2015.
Brewer wasted no time in making good on his emphasis regarding faith integration: “Our goal is to ensure students gain maturity of intellect and maturity of Christian character,” he often says. “If we fail at either, we have failed at both.”
Pushing faith integration to the fore, Brewer inaugurated a summer reading project last year for faculty and incoming freshmen. Faculty read “Conceiving the Christian College” and freshmen read “Why College Matters to God.”
Brewer also developed faith integration training workshops for LC faculty, staff, and coaches, and has continued to emphasize faith integration as reflected in LC’s hiring processes and the newly instituted requirement for faculty and staff to attend chapel.
In restructuring the college’s senior leadership team, Brewer assigned enrollment management responsibilities to Dr. Brandon Bannon, who remains as vice president for student development.
One year ago, LC’s spring preview day garnered about 36 attendees. The spring 2016 preview day saw more than 100 prospective students visit the campus along with their families.
“Dr. Bannon’s energy and innovation has made Louisiana College competitive again,” Brewer said. “Brandon has helped us turn the corner and put us back on the growth trajectory.”
Last summer, LC partnered with Rapides Parish School Board in a dual enrollment agreement that allows qualified high school students to enroll at the college to simultaneously earn both high school and college credit.
Significant to LC’s academic and professional offerings is the college’s School of Nursing. Brewer hired Dr. Marilyn Cooksey to succeed the school’s previous dean.
“Dr. Cooksey demonstrates true academic excellence coupled with a biblical commitment to compassionate care,” Brewer said. “As expected, Marilyn has brought a welcome and healthy perspective to our School of Nursing.”
Launching a Board of Visitors last summer, Brewer effectively has built a coalition of alumni, professionals, business leaders, pastors and other friends of LC committed to support a scholarship fund that goes wholly and solely to qualified students. BOV members also will help identify internships and job opportunities for students. Several LC staff and faculty have joined the effort that now has 78 members.
“Without the capable assistance of Byron McGee, our Board of Visitors would not be growing at such a pace,” Brewer said. McGee, whose employment at LC spans three decades, has built hundreds of relationships. “His knowledge and expertise in friend-raising is vital in his new role as vice president of institutional advancement.”
Though students will benefit from the BOV’s scholarship fund, the “total impact of our BOV members is priceless as they pray for the college, mentor students, and serve as ambassadors for LC,” Brewer said.
The addition of Kathy Overturf as director of alumni relations “has re-energized and brought new enthusiasm to our alumni base,” Brewer said.
Brewer hired Reni Mason as head men’s basketball coach. Though Mason took the Wildcats to a conference championship game in his first year, “Reni is equally committed to the academic, athletic and spiritual development of our student-athletes,” Brewer said.
Early last fall Brewer inked a partnership agreement along with Dr. Les Guice, president of Louisiana Tech, that provides qualified students the opportunity to gain two bachelor’s degrees in five years. Students may complete a pre-Engineering degree at LC before matriculating to Louisiana Tech.
More recently, Louisiana College and University Academy — a local, independent high school — signed a dual enrollment agreement allowing UA students to attend classes at LC.
Brewer has led the way in improving the college’s facilities and infrastructure. Residence halls have been remodeled, roads have been repaired, air conditioning units and roofs have been replaced, and new greenery surrounds the college’s fountain.
“All of these efforts represent a cohesive strategy to prepare graduates and transform lives,” said Brewer, while noting his gratitude for his senior administrative staff.
“I am also grateful for LC’s Board of Trustees, who have wholeheartedly embraced our mission and vision,” Brewer said.
Throughout his travels, Brewer continues to meet people who express their appreciation for his arrival at LC and for the course he has set. “I cannot count the number of personal comments, letters, phone calls, emails, cards and letters from those who endorse what we are doing at Louisiana College,” he said. “The frequency, diversity and sincerity of such approval tell me we are heading in the right direction.”
“We thank God for all of these accolades and accomplishments. Greater than all of these, however, are the students who have recommitted their lives to Christ or have come to faith in Christ for the first time. God is at work at Louisiana College, and I am both humbled and grateful for what he is doing.”
“Cathy and I are thankful to God for allowing us to do what we love,” Brewer added. “We know you will thank God as we thank you, the Louisiana College family, for your prayers and financial support. Rejoice with us as we celebrate what God is accomplishing at Louisiana College.”
