During his tenure at DePauw, Dr. Brooks has taught almost every course listed in the catalog under the Physics and Astronomy Department. Until the arrival of Prof. Kertzman, he was responsible for the operation of McKim Observatory. Dr. Brooks has also worked with the Science Research Fellows program since it began. From 1986 until 1994, Dr. Brooks conducted research with engineers in the Test Laboratory at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The remaining years, he worked under unsolicited grants dealing with the optical analysis of data collected during crystal growth experiments conducted onboard Spacelab.
Students continue to use the image analysis software for various advanced laboratory projects.
Throughout the past several years, he has been active in the Indiana Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers, and is the immediate past president of the section. Dr. Brooks is active in faculty government and currently serves as the Secretary of the Faculty. He is active in the First Baptist Church and is Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 99. During the summer of 1998, he and Nathan completed a trek at the Philmont Scout Ranch .