Detours Help Communication Expert Connect with Students

With 35-plus years of teaching community college students, Kirk Brewer believes strong communication skills are crucial for a successful and fulfilling life. His own educational and career journey, marked by various detours, enables him to relate to his students' struggles.

Believing good communication skills are foundational to a more successful and rewarding life, Kirk Brewer, Associate Professor of Communication, helps TCC students realize their own potential.  

“Part of my job is to help students see what they might be able to achieve if they learn to think, consider, listen, write, speak, and respond instead of react,” explains Brewer who has taught communication studies at the College for more than 20 years. “Good communication helps you have more enjoyment in your interpersonal relationships, less conflict at work and at home, more confidence in expressing your ideas, better abilities at listening and understanding other perspectives, and much more. I’m proud to teach a subject that I believe changes peoples' lives for the better.”

An ‘obstacle-course approach’ to his educational journey and career destination

Brewer's degree and career path took a few twists and turns. “When I was young, I liked writing, and did well at it, so I originally majored in communication/journalism,” says Brewer. “However, I quickly realized while I loved journalistic writing, I didn't like the hours, deadlines, and stress of job. So, I changed my major to English Education.”

After attending four different universities, getting married, working as a manager for Mazzio’s, having a baby, and other adventures, he eventually graduated from Northeastern State University and took a job as a high school teacher. He continued working on his master’s at NSU where he had an opportunity to serve as a graduate assistant teaching developmental English. There he learned that he loved teaching college students. “While I truly did enjoy the high schoolers I taught, it became obvious to me that college teaching was what I wanted to do.”

He took a teaching job at Oklahoma State University-IT for about 10 years, then moved to Williams Communications Group. It didn’t take long before he realized he missed teaching, so he found a part-time adjunct position teaching Web Design classes at TCC in 2000. A few years later when WCG experienced layoffs, he picked up a few English courses and eventually was hired as full-time faculty at the College in 2003.

“I consider the various pathways I took for my education a feature rather than a bug, nowadays, although at the time it sure seemed like a myriad of ridiculous detours,” Brewer shares. “I'm able to use my ‘obstacle-course approach' to gaining my degrees as something I have in common with many of my students at TCC. When they allude to the many things they are trying to juggle while going to school, I can totally relate.”  

Leadership roles at the College

While at TCC he has been heavily involved with the Faculty Association, even serving as president. He was appointed Communications faculty department chair from 2018 to 2022 and still consults with the current chair. In addition, he was a member of the strategic development team that was instrumental in the formation of the College’s mission, vision and value statements.

In 2024, Brewer was named a Service Excellence Award winner. In his nomination, a colleague wrote, “Kirk listens, mentors, and is always available to share expertise and institutional knowledge... He answers questions and provides quiet and empathetic leadership as the ‘elder statesman’ of our department whether as part of an official role or not... He is an asset to the College, our discipline, and the community.”

From humorous tales to homemade treats

When he’s not at TCC, you might find Brewer at a Toastmasters International meeting where he’s involved on the humorous speaking track. He also loves to cook and has been known to bring food to meetings. So, if you’re lucky enough to have him in class or a meeting, you might get to hear one of his tall tales or try one of his homemade treats.