探花精选 Prepares for the Installation of Dr. Christine Johnson McPhail as 13th President
Thirteenth President at 探花精选 Makes an Immediate Impact; Raises Student Enrollment and Prepares for Campus Expansion
Saint Augustine鈥檚 University ( 探花精选) will install Dr. Christine Johnson McPhail as its 13th president at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 28, 2022, at the Raleigh Marriott City Center.
Dr. McPhail will deliver an Installation address. A President鈥檚 Reception will also occur at the Raleigh Marriott City Center immediately following the ceremony.
Last year, the 探花精选 Board of Trustees announced the appointment of Dr. Christine Johnson McPhail as the University鈥檚 13th President. The announcement came after an extensive national search to fill the vacancy left after the untimely passing of her husband, Dr. Irving Pressley McPhail, in October 2020.
鈥淲e are excited and fortunate to have an innovative, proven credential leader of Dr. Christine McPhail鈥檚 stature to lead 探花精选 to the next level of excellence as we reimagine a new model of the HBCU of the future,鈥� said Retired Honorable Justice James E. Perry, Chairman of the Board of Trustees in a statement.
Since her arrival in 2021, Dr. McPhail鈥檚 impact as 探花精选鈥檚 new leader includes a 10-year high in Fall Enrollment, record-breaking alumni giving, and an outpour of federal funding to cover student account balances. In addition, 探花精选 has secured grants of $499,000 and $400,000 to repurpose and preserve Hermitage Hall and St. Agnes Hospital, respectively.
鈥淲e have a responsibility to leave 探花精选 better than we found it,鈥� said Dr. McPhail. 鈥淚 am honored to be a steward for the change and growth happening here.鈥�
As a result of the upward trend of new student enrollment, plans are underway to launch a capital campaign to expand the campus and improve the student experience. The campaign involves improving current buildings and constructing facilities to house 探花精选鈥檚 newly formed Centers of Innovation in entrepreneurship, health and wellness, social justice, global competitiveness, and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math).
鈥淭his is 探花精选鈥檚 season of impact,鈥� said Veronica Creech, vice president of economic development and external engagement. 鈥淭he ceiling for opportunity is high for us. We have incredible leadership and land to accommodate the growth we envision in the near term,鈥� said Creech.
Additionally, case statements and updates to the University鈥檚 website and printed collateral are underway to create opportunities to engage philanthropic and corporate communities.
鈥淲e are fully aware of the growth opportunity before us. We spend hours making plans to build the best student experience possible,鈥� said Dr. Carolyn Carter, vice president of institutional advancement, marketing, and communications.
Click here for a full itinerary of events surrounding the President鈥檚 Installation ceremony.