Louisiana Christian University President Rick Brewer has announced his retirement from higher education administration after serving for nine years as the unanimously elected ninth president of Louisiana’s only Baptist institution of higher learning.
Brewer has accepted another position as head of school at Master’s Academy in Vero Beach, Florida, keeping him in Christian ministry and education.
“We are grateful the Lord has opened the door of service … placing Cathy and me closer to our aging parents,” he said.
Brewer’s tenure
Since Brewer’s tenure began in March 2015, LCU has advanced from one to five graduate programs, added the C.S. Lewis Honors Program and established academic partnerships with Louisiana Tech University and community and technical colleges statewide.
Under Brewer’s leadership, the university has raised over $50 million from more than 3,000 donors.
As LCU president, Brewer and the presidential leadership team’s commitment to academic excellence yielded zero findings of non-compliance for the university’s SACSCOC 10-year reaffirmation of accreditation in 2021.
He established many additional scholarship programs, implemented flat-rate tuition, and addressed more than $40 million in deferred maintenance and campus refurbishment. Additionally, he oversaw the addition of more than $5 million in new technology, lights, cameras and classroom equipment.
Remaining ‘tethered to God’s Word and will’
“As I reflect on the past nine years serving the Louisiana Christian University ‘family’ and the churches and pastors of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, I marvel at the work of the Lord in significant and transformational ways in and through the university,” Brewer said. “Indeed, we have been privileged to work with some amazing people these past nine years. The friends we’ve gained will remain in our hearts all the rest of our days. Now, as we retire from higher education leadership and enter this new season of Kingdom service, we remain tethered to God’s Word and will.”
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written and originally published by Louisiana Christian University.