Dr. James Brammer, a new member of the BJU faculty and a former practicing lawyer, is beginning his second semester teaching multiple sections of Legal Environment & Ethics of Business, Taxation I and Taxation II in the School of Business.
Each day at BJU brings excitement and joy for Brammer as he teaches, interacts with students, faculty and staff, and goes to chapel.
“I love to go and see who the chapel speaker is every day, and I love the opportunities to sit with a student over lunch and talk about what’s going on in their lives,” he said. “It’s a blessing. I want them to know that we are people here that can be a source of caring and compassion [away from home].”
Brammer moved to Michigan at the age of 15 and attended Bethany Christian School in Troy. After graduating high school, he came to BJU to pursue a degree in accounting.
However, Brammer’s father passed away between his sophomore and junior years of college, and he transferred to Walsh College of Accountancy and Business Administration back home in Michigan.
Brammer finished his degree at Walsh but knew that he did not want to pursue a career as a certified public accountant. Instead, he felt compelled to attend law school after viewing “The Silent Scream,” an educational film about abortion, during his freshman year at BJU.
“I was really stirred by [this film] to be working to make a difference in this world for the things that are right, and that’s what convinced me to go to law school,” Brammer said.
He then continued his education at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., for three years and received his law degree. Brammer immediately began to practice law in a private practice.
“I always thought that was where I would begin and end my working career,” he said.
The Lord had different plans for him, however, and his practicing partnership ended about five years ago. He then began to teach government and history courses at Bethany Christian School, his old high school. From this experience, he quickly learned that he had a passion for teaching.
“I didn’t know before diving into it that interacting with students was something that was a thrill for me to be able to do,” Brammer said.
Shortly after looking for more teaching opportunities, he was offered a position at Marygrove College in Detroit, Mich., to teach a tax class. As the class was about to begin, though, Brammer was told that there were not enough students registered, and he was no longer needed.
Yet when this door closed, another door opened.
Through the recommendation of Brammer’s pastor, BJU contacted Brammer, and he came to visit the campus and meet with several administrators. He accepted the offer of a faculty position this past summer.
“I’m thankful to God every day for giving me this opportunity because this is fun for me,” he said. “It’s like giving me ice cream and candy.”
Brammer also assists BJU Press with contracts and provides them with legal advice when needed.
He and his wife Deanna have two children, Troy and Haley, and they now live in Greenville.