Rick Brewer, who has served in several administrative capacities at Charleston Southern University over the past 28 years, has been elected president of Louisiana College in Pineville, La.

Louisiana College trustees unanimously elected Brewer as the school’s 11th president on March 5, according to a news release. The college is affiliated with the Louisiana Baptist Convention.

Brewer takes office at LC on April 7, leaving his role as vice president of student affairs and athletics at CSU, where he gained extensive senior-level administrative experience during his nearly three-decade tenure there.

“God’s hand and external confirmation have been evident in bringing Cathy and me to Louisiana College,” Brewer said. “I am thankful that this new role found me. It was not even on my radar.”

Chairman of LC’s board of trustees and presidential search committee Tommy French said, “When our search committee first read Dr Brewer’s resume, we believed he was God’s man for Louisiana College. Then after we met with him, we were convinced God sent him to us.”

“Louisiana College and Louisiana Baptists are blessed to have one whose multi-faceted credentials reflect stellar administration, studious academics, effective development, and an unswerving commitment to the advancement of God’s kingdom,” French said.

CSU president Jairy C. Hunter, said Brewer is a “strong Christian leader with extensive experience in strategic planning and budgeting, enrollment management, student development, revenue development, athletics and Christian ministries. He has provided visionary and exemplary leadership for 28 years as a senior officer at Charleston Southern University.”

Born in New Orleans, where his father attended seminary, Brewer earned a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policies with cognates in management and higher education administration from the University of South Carolina and an MBA and BS in history from Charleston Southern University.

He also completed post-graduate certifications at Harvard and Duke universities.

While at CSU, Brewer helped envision a comprehensive, liberal-arts campus environment, as well as lead initiatives to champion the significance of Christian higher education.

Brewer emphasized shared responsibility for the general administration for strategic planning, academic affairs, enrollment management, institutional advancement, external relations, financial management, legal affairs, student affairs, athletics, and technology.

He helped to double enrollment from 1,600 to more that 3,400 students, increase unrestricted giving and endowment support, and improve freshman retention from 50 to 78 percent.

Under Brewer’s leadership, the integration of planning, budgeting, and assessment with broad-based campus participation produced additional academic programs and facilities, including a state-of-the-art science building, athletic facility, and expansion of the school of nursing building.

He served as director for external relations, assistant to the president, interim director of athletics; held vice presidential roles for planning, student affairs, and athletics; and was a member of the president’s cabinet since 1989.

“At Louisiana College, my focus will be on leading the college into the future by building on its mission and vision for effectiveness in global Christian leadership,” Brewer said. “We will build upon the college’s excellent academic reputation while preparing graduates to navigate the challenges of the 21st-century marketplace. Collectively, we will promote a comprehensive, liberal arts education, challenging students to think critically, learn continuously, and serve creatively.”