2002 Orien B. Hendrex Distinguished Teacher
Richard Brewer
The annual convocation address was presented by Richard L. Brewer, recipient of the 2002 Orien B. Hendrex Distinquished Teacher Award. Brewer is a professor of psychology at SBU.
The award is presented annually to a faculty member who has been judged by the previous three years' and current year's graduating classes to be outstanding in both teaching ability and personal guidance. The Board of Trustees at Southwest Baptist University has designated this award in memory of former Academic Dean Orien B. Hendrex.
Dr. Brewer has been part of the University Faculty since 1982 and occupies the rank of full professor with tenure. He teaches numerous psychology classes including abnormal psychology and introduction to counseling. He served as chair of the department of behavioral sciences from 1994 - 1998.
His clinical experience began at Quad-County Counseling Center in Princeton, Ill. In 1986 he began an association at the Family Institute of the Ozarks, Springfield, Mo. on a part-time basis, and still maintains a part-time, private practice there.
Dr. Brewer is a licensed clinical psychologist health services provider. He holds membership with the American Psychological Association and the Missouri Psychological Association. He serves as faculty sponsor of the SBU chapter of Psi Chi, the national honor society in psychology. He has been on the National Dean's List, nominated for Who's Who in the Midwest, and nominated for Outstanding Young Men of America.
He received an undergraduate degree in religious studies and psychology at Southwest Baptist College in 1978, a master of clinical psychology from Wheaton Graduate School in 1981 and a doctorate of clinical psychology in 1991 from Forest Institute of Professional Psychology.
Outside of SBU, Dr. Brewer enjoys motorcycling, walking, reading, writing poetry, and the integration of theology and psychology. He has two married daughters, Kristin and Kara and a son, the late Evan Brewer.