We are pleased to announce that nationally acclaimed social scientist, bestselling author, and Harvard professor Dr. Arthur Brooks will deliver the school’s inaugural Brauer Lecture at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 12, 2022, in the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury. The new Brauer Lecture Series at Westminster College brings to campus world-renowned speakers who will address the contributions of free enterprise to economic growth, public policy, and world affairs. 

Titled “The Pursuit of Happiness and True Success," Dr. Brooks’ lecture will be based on his book Gross National Happiness and his documentary The Pursuit. He will focus on how people can find fulfillment through their work within the free-enterprise system and extract life lessons that can immediately help everyone pursue happiness, forge stronger relationships, and build more meaningful lives.

This event is free and open to the public, but registration is requested to ensure adequate seating. 

Brooks led the American Enterprise Institute, one of the world’s top think tanks in Washington, DC, for a decade before accepting a position in 2019 as the Arthur C. Patterson Faculty Fellow at Harvard Business School in Cambridge, MA. He is also a public leadership professor at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. Brooks previously taught economics and entrepreneurship at Syracuse University in Syracuse, NY.

Dr. David Roebuck, Westminster’s Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty, says the Brauer Lecture audience should expect a deeply thought-provoking lecture.
 
“Using philosophy, the tools of modern science, and ancient wisdom, Dr. Brooks shows how all can lead happier, more joyful, and successful lives." Roebuck says.

A 30-minute question-and-answer session following his lecture will allow students and the public to discuss the topic more in depth.

Brooks melds his professional experiences and personal philosophies into his speaking engagements, newspaper columns, and collection of bestsellers. A frequent contributor to The Atlantic, The Washington Post, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal, he is also known widely for his 2019 Netflix documentary The Pursuit.

The Brauer Lecture Series was created to explore and encourage dialogue on the American free enterprise system. The series supports student growth and development by hosting leading scholars from across the United States.

Sponsored in conjunction with the Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis, MO, the Brauer Lecture Series seeks to highlight the leadership characteristics of its speakers. Featured lecturers are encouraged to discuss how their values guide their daily lives while also highlighting the importance free-market economics. It is made possible by a generous gift from Stephen F., ’67, and Camilla T. Brauer of St. Louis.

President and Chief Transformation Officer Donald P. Lofe, Jr., says Westminster College has eagerly anticipated this inaugural Brauer Lecture since 2020, when the lecture was postponed as a result of COVID-19.

“We are pleased to be able to launch this much-anticipated lecture series, which is really a fantastic opportunity for students to broaden their perspectives while taking a brief pause during a busy time of the academic year,” Lofe says. “We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Stephen and Camilla Brauer for their generosity in establishing this lectureship.”