University News

Brooks Named Honors College Associate Director

January 19, 2017

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MACOMB, IL – Professor F. Erik Brooks, former chair of the Western Illinois University Department of African American Studies, has been named associate director of the University's Centennial Honors College.

"The Honors College is fortunate to have someone of Dr. Brooks' caliber," said Centennial Honors College Director Rick Hardy. "He brings a wealth of administrative experience and has a significant history of working with Honors students and promoting our many programs. Dr. Brooks' extensive background in journalism, counseling, public policy, public administration, civil rights and higher education makes him particularly well suited to handle the duties of associate director."

Brooks received his doctorate degree from the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government at Virginia Commonwealth (2002); a master's degree in education (1999) from Alabama State; a master's of public administration degree (1998) from Auburn University; a master of science degree in agency counseling and human development (1992) from Troy State University and his bachelor's degree in journalism and art from Troy State (1989).

Brooks came to Western in 2012 to chair the Department of African American Studies. He has also served as interim director of WIU's Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center.

Before coming to Western, Brooks was assistant to the dean at Georgia Southern University (GSU) and director of the Master of Public Administration program in the department of political science at GSU. He started his career at Georgia Southern as an assistant professor in the department of political science in 2002. Brooks also taught in the Africana studies program at GSU and was later promoted to associate professor. He has also been an adjunct instructor at the Jepson School of Leadership at the University of Richmond and in the department of advancement studies at Alabama State.

Brooks has also served as the student coordinator for the public policy and administration's Ph.D. program at Virginia Commonwealth University and as an academic adviser and counselor in the department of advancement studies at Alabama State.

"I am excited about this new opportunity to join forces with the Centennial Honors College," said Brooks. "I look forward to utilizing my knowledge, skills and abilities in enriching the experiences and opportunities for the best of the University's academically talented students."

During the last academic year, Brooks guided a group of WIU Honors students on a tour of historic civil rights sites in Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi.

"It was truly a wonderful and life changing learning experience for these students," said Brooks. "These are the kinds of enhanced undergraduate experiences that Dr. Hardy continuously seeks for Honor's students. I am happy to become formally affiliated with this worthy academic unit."

For more information about the WIU Honors College, visit wiu.edu/honors.








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