Changes

{{Infobox officeholder

{{Infobox officeholder

| name=Richard Bennett "Rick"<br> Brewer, Jr.

| name=Richard Bennett<br> "Rick" Brewer, Jr.

| nationality=[[United States|American]]

| nationality=[[United States|American]]

| office=9th permanent President of Louisiana College in [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]], [[Louisiana]]

| office=9th permanent President of Louisiana College in [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]], [[Louisiana]]

| term_start=April 7, 2015

| term_start=April 7, 2015

| term_end=  

| term_end=April 14, 2024

| preceded=Argile Asa Smith, Jr. (interim for [[Joe Aguillard]])

| preceded=[[Argile Smith|Argile Asa Smith, Jr.]] (interim for [[Joe Aguillard]])

| succeeded=

| succeeded=David Jeffreys (interim)

| birth_date=April 19, 1956

| birth_date=April 19, 1956

|birth_place =[[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]],  

|birth_place=[[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]],  

| residence=Pineville, Rapides Parish, Louisiana

| residence=Pineville, Rapides Parish, Louisiana

| spouse =Catherine W. "Cathy" Brewer<br>

| spouse=Catherine W. "Cathy" Brewer<br>

Children:<br>

Children:<br>

Jason and Jonathan D. Brewer

Jason and Jonathan D. Brewer

}}

}}

'''Richard Bennett Brewer, Jr.''', known as '''Rick Brewer''' (born April 19, 1956),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mylife.com/richard-brewer/rickbrewer77|title=

'''Richard Bennett Brewer, Jr.''', known as '''Rick Brewer''' (born April 19, 1956),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mylife.com/richard-brewer/rickbrewer77|title=

rRichard Brewer|publisher=Mylife.com|accessdate=Mach 2, 2018}}</ref> is the ninth president<ref>He is the tenth president if the preceding interim president, Argile Asa Smith, Jr., is included.</ref> of the [[Southern Baptist]]-affiliated [[Louisiana College]] in [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]], [[Louisiana]]. He succeeded the interim president Argile Asa Smith, Jr., on April 7, 2015, who filled in for eight months following the resignation in 2014 of the embattled former president, [[Joe Aguillard]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20140303/NEWS01/303030023/Louisiana-College-trustees-consider-new-contract-Aguillard|title=Leigh Guidry, "Louisiana College trustees consider new contract for Aguillard," March 2, 2014|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|accessdate=March 3, 2014}}</ref>

rRichard Brewer|publisher=Mylife.com|accessdate=Mach 2, 2018}}</ref> is the ninth president<ref>He is the tenth president if the preceding interim president, Argile Asa Smith, Jr., is included.</ref> of the [[Southern Baptist]]-affiliated [[Louisiana College]] (now Louisiana Christian University) in [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]], [[Louisiana]]. He succeeded the interim president Argile Asa Smith, Jr., on April 7, 2015, who filled in for eight months following the resignation in 2014 of the embattled former president, [[Joe Aguillard]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20140303/NEWS01/303030023/Louisiana-College-trustees-consider-new-contract-Aguillard|title=Leigh Guidry, "Louisiana College trustees consider new contract for Aguillard," March 2, 2014|publisher=''[[Alexandria Town Talk]]''|accessdate=March 3, 2014}}</ref> Brewer stepped down from his presidency on April 14, 2024. He has accepted a position as the head of school of a Christian institution, Master's Academy in Vero Beach, [[Florida]].<ref name=retires>{{cite web|url=https://lcuniversity.edu/lcus-president-rick-brewer-announces-retirement/#:~:text=Louisiana%20Christian%20University%20President%20Dr.%20Rick%20Brewer%20has,position%20keeping%20him%20in%20Christian%20ministry%20and%20education.|title=LCU’s President Rick Brewer announces retirement|publisher=lcuniversity.edu|date=March 8, 2024|accessdate=April 30, 2024}}</ref>

==Background==

==Background==

Brewer previously resided in Summerville in Dorchester County, South Carolina, where he was a [[deacon]] at Summerville Baptist Church,<ref name=rbrewertolead/> and Ladson, South Carolina; Eatonton in Putnam County in central [[Georgia]], and Lewisville in Forsyth County in west central North Carolina, specific dates unavailable.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.intelius.com/results.php?ReportType=1&formname=name&qf=Richard&qmi=&qn=Brewer&qcs=North+Charleston%2C+SC&focusfirst=1|title=Richard B. Brewer|publisher=intelius.com|accessdate=July 23, 2015}}</ref>

Brewer previously resided in Summerville in Dorchester County, South Carolina, where he was a [[deacon]] at Summerville Baptist Church,<ref name=rbrewertolead/> and Ladson, South Carolina; Eatonton in Putnam County in central [[Georgia]], and Lewisville in Forsyth County in west central North Carolina, specific dates unavailable.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.intelius.com/results.php?ReportType=1&formname=name&qf=Richard&qmi=&qn=Brewer&qcs=North+Charleston%2C+SC&focusfirst=1|title=Richard B. Brewer|publisher=intelius.com|accessdate=July 23, 2015}}</ref>

Brewer and his wife, Catherine W. "Cathy" Brewer (born November 1, 1956), have two adult sons, Jason and Jonathan.<ref name=rbrewertolead/>

Brewer and his wife, Catherine W. "Cathy" Brewer (born November 1, 1956), have two adult sons, Jason, a musical arranger who lives in [[Nashville]], [[Tennessee]],  and Jonathan.<ref name=rbrewertolead/>

==Career==

==Career==

===Dr. Carolyn Spears suit===

===Dr. Carolyn Spears suit===

In March 2018, Carolyn Spears (born c. 1941), a faculty member and administrator in physical education and teacher education at LC since 1977, who was tenured in 1984, filed suit in the United States District Court in Alexandria regarding her dismissal on grounds alleged age, gender, disability, and non-Calvinist religious beliefs. She claims retaliation while she underwent apparently successful [[cancer]] treatment in 2016 in [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], [[Texas]]. She claims that the college rejected her request for medical accommodation and cut her pay by $500 per month. The suit maintains that Brewer and Cheryl Clark, the vice president of academic affairs,  conspired to "embarrass and humiliate" Spears into resigning from the faculty and alleges further that Clark "openly attacked" Spears and called the courses she taught a "joke" during a faculty meeting in April 2015 shortly after Brewer became the president.<ref name=spearscase>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetowntalk.com/story/news/education/2018/03/21/another-federal-lawsuit-against-lc-alleges-discrimination/443511002/|title=Another federal lawsuit against Louisiana College alleges discrimination|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|date=March 21, 2018|author=Miranda Klein|accessdate=March 23, 2018}}</ref>

In March 2018, Carolyn Dossman Spears (born September 26, 1941), a native of Bunkie in Avoyelles Parish,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mylife.com/carolyn-spears/carolyndossmanspears?valid=true&|title=Caroloyn Spears|publisher=Mylife.com|accessdate=December 24, 2020}}</ref> and a LC faculty member and administrator in physical education and teacher education since 1977, filed suit in the United States District Court in Alexandria regarding her dismissal on grounds of alleged age, gender, disability, and non-Calvinist religious beliefs. Tenured in 1984, she claims retaliation while she underwent apparently successful [[cancer]] treatment in 2016 in [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], [[Texas]]. She claims that the college rejected her request for medical accommodation and cut her pay by $500 per month. The suit maintains that Brewer and Cheryl Clark, the vice president of academic affairs,  conspired to "embarrass and humiliate" Spears into resigning from the faculty and alleges further that Clark "openly attacked" Spears and called the courses she taught a "joke" during a faculty meeting in April 2015 shortly after Brewer became the president.<ref name=spearscase>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetowntalk.com/story/news/education/2018/03/21/another-federal-lawsuit-against-lc-alleges-discrimination/443511002/|title=Another federal lawsuit against Louisiana College alleges discrimination|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|date=March 21, 2018|author=Miranda Klein|accessdate=March 23, 2018}}</ref>

   

   

In a letter, Brewer claimed the college paid Spears a full salary for two years "without her ever teaching a single student, although the college was not obligated to do so. LC cannot sustain such a practice, which has never been afforded any other faculty member." Spears denies that she was paid without teaching duties and instructed four hundred students while undergoing cancer treatments.<ref name=spearscase/>

In a letter, Brewer said that the college paid Spears a full salary for two years "without her ever teaching a single student, although the college was not obligated to do so. LC cannot sustain such a practice, which has never been afforded any other faculty member." Spears denies that she was paid without teaching duties and instructed four hundred students while undergoing cancer treatments.<ref name=spearscase/>

Like former President Aguillard in his pending suit, Spears alleges in her lawsuit that Brewer is a "Calvinist." Aguillard had called Calvinism beyond the faith statement adopted by the Southern and Louisiana Baptist conventions. Brewer, however, again declared himself "neither a Calvinist nor an Arminian, but a Baptist."<ref name=spearscase/>

Like former President Aguillard in his suit, Spears alleges in her lawsuit that Brewer is a "Calvinist." Aguillard had called Calvinism beyond the faith statement adopted by the Southern and Louisiana Baptist conventions. Brewer, however, again declared himself "neither a Calvinist nor an Arminian, but a Baptist."<ref name=spearscase/>

On the fifth anniversary of Brewer becoming the LC president, Pineville [[Mayor]] [[Clarence Fields]] described the college as "much stronger today thanks to the leadership of Rick Brewer. The future is very bright for Louisiana College, and I look forward to continuing the partnership that makes each one of our organizations so much better together." Alexandria Mayor Jeff Hall said that Brewer used his "talents, insight, and vigor to position the college as a regional leader in both academics and Christian service, giving first-generation college students the kind of hands-on, minds-engaged education that the brain craves."<ref>"Celebrating Five Years," ''Columns: The Magazine for Louisiana College Alumni & Friends,'' Summer 2020, p. 7.</ref>

On the fifth anniversary of Brewer becoming the LC president in April 2020, Pineville [[Mayor]] [[Clarence Fields]] described LC as "much stronger today thanks to the leadership of Rick Brewer. The future is very bright for Louisiana College, and I look forward to continuing the partnership that makes each one of our organizations so much better together." Alexandria Mayor Jeff Hall said that Brewer used his "talents, insight, and vigor to position the college as a regional leader in both academics and Christian service, giving first-generation college students the kind of hands-on, minds-engaged education that the brain craves."<ref>"Celebrating Five Years," ''Columns: The Magazine for Louisiana College Alumni & Friends,'' Summer 2020, p. 7.</ref>

 

 

 

Brewer stepped down after nine years as the ninth president of LCU.<ref name=retires/>

==References==

==References==

[[Category:South Carolina]]

[[Category:South Carolina]]

[[Category:Georgia]]

[[Category:Georgia]]

[[Category:Educators]]

[[Category:Educators]]

[[Category:Baptists]]

[[Category:Southern Baptists]]

[[Category:Republicans]]

[[Category:Republicans]]