With 42 years of teaching experience, including 13 years at Howard Payne University, Brad Lemler brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the School of Business. As Professor and Dean, Lemler teaches courses in accounting, economics, finance, and quantitative methods. Of all the courses he teaches, Advanced Financial Accounting is his favorite. He describes consolidating financial statements as “basically doing financial accounting backwards,” explaining that students who can successfully master the process demonstrate a strong understanding of the financial accounting model.
What Lemler appreciates most about teaching at HPU is the university’s commitment to helping students succeed. Rather than focusing on eliminating students who struggle academically, HPU seeks to help serious students persevere and complete their degrees. For Lemler, that commitment reflects an important part of the university’s mission: providing students with opportunities to grow and prepare for their futures.
Lemler is also passionate about HPU’s Christian academic environment. He values the freedom faculty have to understand their disciplines from a distinctly biblical perspective and, where appropriate, incorporate that perspective into their teaching. His own academic interests frequently explore the intersection of business, economics, finance, accounting, and Christian vocation.
His passion for education is rooted in personal experience. College opened doors for Lemler and allowed him to pursue opportunities that his parents might never have imagined. He hopes to provide similar opportunities for his students, particularly those who are willing to take advantage of what higher education offers.
Lemler holds an extensive collection of academic degrees. He earned a BSBA, MBA, and PhD in Business, all with an accounting major, from Indiana University. He also earned an MS in interdisciplinary studies from Texas Tech University, with an emphasis in agricultural economics, economics, and political science; an MA in economics from the University of Notre Dame; and both an MMin and MA in theology from Bethel College in Indiana.
Outside the classroom, Lemler enjoys spending time with his family, exercising, reading, and following college sports, particularly Indiana, Notre Dame, and Texas Tech. He is also a member of Coggin Avenue Baptist Church, where he remains active in a variety of activities.
Lemler grew up on a hog farm outside Bourbon, Indiana, and worked on a neighboring dairy farm. His father was both a farmer and factory worker, while his mother managed the home and farm. His father encouraged him to view college as a path toward a better career, ultimately influencing Lemler’s decision to pursue accounting rather than engineering. Looking back, Lemler says he has never regretted that decision and believes his father’s perspective on the value of a college education has proven true over time.
