Just 45 days into his term as Campbell University’s sixth president, Dr. William Downs said he has a good sense of what makes Campbell a special place — as well as the current needs and the challenges that lie ahead.
Downs spoke to a full house in the Keith Family Ballroom Thursday to welcome faculty and staff back to campus for Day 1 of their two-day fall orientation.
Downs shared his own higher education journey — one that took him across the globe during multiple fellowship programs and to several universities as a faculty member and dean — and the struggles brought on by events like Sept. 11, the economic collapse of 2008, multiple hurricanes and the COVID pandemic.
“They say that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. And I come to Campbell pretty strong,” Downs said. “And based upon those experiences, I come to Campbell with a strong belief that we can live out this institution’s motto — To the stars, through difficulties. We can navigate anything if we do it together.”
He said all the things that made Campbell so appealing to him when he accepted the job have been reinforced during his first month and a half in Buies Creek — 45 days that have included campus tours, meet-and-greet events, speaking engagements with students and student-athletes and various meetings with trustees, deans, department heads and faculty and staff. Campbell’s strength, he said, is in its mission, its people and its location.
“Location” might come as a surprise to those outside of Buies Creek, Downs said, but the small town just a short drive from the bustling city of Raleigh — named the top city in the country for job opportunities and earning potential by Checkr this week — is a big asset for Campbell’s success.
“It’s a small, safe, tightly-knit college community, with Raleigh inching closer to us with each passing day,” Downs said. “We have the best of both worlds here, and if that Raleigh growth is managed smartly, we’re going to have a lot of future Camels moving into these new neighborhoods that seem to be popping up everywhere.”
Downs said his immediate goal is to bring eager ears, fresh eyes and a jolt of energy, optimism and positivity to his role as president. He said he’s also bringing a willingness to search and ask for the resources that are needed. Significant work has been done and will be done to improve Campbell’s infrastructure, he said, pointing to recent overhauls of several HVAC units campus-wide.
In addition to infrastructure, Downs said another immediate challenge will be focusing undergraduate enrollment and leveraging Campbell’s strong graduate programs to attract new students. One way to do that, he said, will be introducing more “pathways” for students to strive for those post-graduate degrees while remaining at Campbell.
Downs said he plans to introduce a concise, five-page strategic plan by the end of the calendar year, and each school will be charged with writing local strategic plans to complement the strategies set forth. The strategic plan will be followed by a new master plan — Campbell’s first since 2004 — that will imagine the “physical place” of Campbell for the next 20 years.
Once those are in place, Downs said the ultimate culmination will be “the most ambitious, comprehensive fundraising campaign in the 138-year history of Campbell University.”
“You have to know what your vision is, and you have to know where you’re going,” he said. “Then you have to know where you want to place it. And then, you have to raise the money. That’s the ‘holy trinity’ of progress at a 21st Century university.”
Teaching and Research Excellence
Dr. Nicholas Pennings and Dr. Jacqueline Garnter were honored at orientation with the D.P. Russ Jr. and Walter S. Jones Sr. Alumni Awards for Teaching Excellence and Research Excellence.
The recently retired Pennings, who won for teaching excellence, was professor of family medicine for the Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine since the year it opened in 2013. Gartner is an associate professor at the Campbell University School of Engineering.
Provost Dr. Michael Adams on Pennings: “Dr. Pennings exemplifies the highest standards of instructional excellence at Campbell University. We’re very sad to see him retire this year and leave us full-time, but we’re excited to recognize him.”
Engineering professor Dr. Ana Rynearson on Gartner: “Outside of her leadership at Campbell, Dr. Gartner has been at the forefront of classroom-focused research, developing novel laboratory equipment to enhance student understanding of transport phenomena in undergraduate heat transfer and fluids courses. She is a leader in the field of chemical engineering educational research and methods.”
The aim of the awards is to give faculty members from across the university campus — both graduate and undergraduate — a chance to recognize the good work and outstanding achievements of their colleagues. Pennings and Gartner were presented with a trophy and a $500 award at orientation.
Dean’s Award Winners
Each year, the deans from Campbell University’s various colleges and schools choose a professor or staff member who best exemplifies the mission and highest ideals of faculty/staff excellence. The following were the Dean’s Award for Excellence winners for the 2024-2025 academic year:
Adult & Online Education: Daniel Simon, Adjunct Professor of Mathematics
- From Dean Nicole Winget: His passion for education is evident in his willingness to teach across various Adult & Online Education campuses, including participation in the Second Chance Initiative. Daniel’s ability to adapt his teaching methods to accommodate diverse learning styles is remarkable; he engages students both in and out of the classroom, fostering a supportive learning environment. His active participation in Campbell University events further demonstrates his dedication to enhancing the educational experience.
College of Arts & Sciences: Dr. Paula Parker, Professor of Exercise Science
- From Dean Dr. Michael B. Wells: A tremendous amount of service is required of a department chair for the largest department in the College of Arts & Science. Dr. Parker does it well. This year she navigated many personnel changes and led significant curriculum revisions. Outside of the department, Dr. Parker continues to be a leader in campus health and wellbeing efforts. Dr. Parker is an active scholar of national prominence in an interdisciplinary field that spans mental health, athletics, and performance. She has authored multiple peer reviewed journal articles, made numerous presentations at conferences, and mentored many student researchers. She has been awarded two research grants.
College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences: Dr. Timothy J. Marks, Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical & Clinical Sciences
- From Dean Dr. Jeff Mercer: Dr. Marks serves as Faculty Advisor for M1 MSPS students and Co-chair of the PCS Curriculum Committee, spearheading the integration of PharmD coursework into the MSPS program to enhance interdisciplinary collaboration. He actively mentors students, guiding research that leads to conference presentations and publications. His service on faculty committees, including the University Faculty Senate and Curriculum Committees, supports academic governance and student success. Dr. Marks’ dedication to education, research, and mentorship is shaping the future of students and reinforcing his role as a leader in his field.
Divinity School: Rev. Dr. Sarah Elizabeth Boberg, Assistant Professor of Christian Education
- From former Dean Dr. Andrew Wakefield: Dr. Boberg shines in the classroom. She inspires students with a passion for ministry with children, youth and adults. She brings a first-hand understanding of the challenges and needs of church-based ministry along with an appreciation for innovative ministry that extends beyond the church. Her infectious enthusiasm and good humor draw students in; her compassion and understanding create a safe space for students to wrestle with hard issues; her academic expertise and her pursuit and example of excellence encourage students to stretch and grow. She exemplifies the best of the scholar-practitioner who effectively equips students for Christ-centered, Bible-based and ministry-focused service.
Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine: Dr. Amy Hinkelman, Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology
- From former Dean Dr. Brian Kessler: In addition to her teaching and scholarship, Dr. Hinkelman provides exemplary institutional service through leadership on key committees related to curriculum development, research initiatives, interprofessional education, and student holistic support. Her tireless dedication to both the academic and professional development of students embodies the mission and values of Campbell University. She represents the highest ideals of faculty excellence at Campbell University.
Lundy-Fetterman School of Business: Dr. Karen Mishra, Department Chair, Business Administration
- From Dean Dr. Kevin O’Mara: Dr. Mishra has consistently excelled in a variety of roles since arriving onto the LFSB faculty. She is an outstanding teacher noted for her collaborative and engaging style. Her courses are sought out by students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Dr. Mishra utilizes a variety of innovative pedagogical techniques to successfully create an atmosphere of involvement, participation, and respect. Her impressively broad organizational knowledge allows her to thrive while teaching in marketing, management and leadership disciplines, which is invaluable to the LFSB program. Her considerable teaching skills are exceeded only by her ability as a mentor to students. Students gravitate to Dr. Mishra for her insights well beyond the classroom and beyond the semester. She has student mentoring relationships spanning years, even with students from her previous universities. Great teachers support their students. Dr. Mishra truly does.
Norman A. Wiggins School of Law: Jon Powell, Director of the Restorative Justice Clinic
- From Dean J. Rich Leonard: Professor Powell has made an indelible mark on Campbell University School of Law and the lives of its graduates. He has educated second- and third-year students in the Restorative Justice Clinic with compassion, grace, humor, and real-life experiences. In addition to his Restorative Justice Class, Professor Powell takes on an exceptional number of students in an independent study each semester and trains them personally in upperlevel restorative justice. Professor Powell has a remarkable gift in training future lawyers in the humanity of being a lawyer.
School of Education & Human Sciences: Dr. Karen Jeannette, Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator, Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- From Dean Dr. Al Bryant: Not only did she enter a program being the new department chair, but the entire department for Mental Health Counseling would also be new. On top of these challenges, the accreditation renewal for CACREP (Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Educational Programs) would be coming up soon as the 2026 Accreditation cycle. She was not only up for the challenge but surpassed expectations. I have collaborated with many previous professors of the Mental Health Counseling Program for the past 30 years. Her resolve in meeting challenges has been as good as any I have worked with.
School of Engineering: Dr. Ana Rynearson, Assistant Professor of Engineering
- From Dean Dr. Jenna Carpenter: Dr. Ana Rynearson is a nationally recognized leader in Engineering Education research. She has been the Pl or co-Pl on three National Science Foundation grants, including a prestigious NSF Career Award, as well as two Kern Family Foundation grants. Her research has focused on topics including student retention, student mentoring, and supporting academic decision points for students. She has involved several Campbell undergraduate research assistants in her work, as well. In addition to publications of her research, she has delivered many workshops to further disseminate her work. Dr. Rynearson has also held national leadership roles in the Educational Research and Methods Division of the American Society for Engineering Education.
Wiggins Memorial Library: Jennifer Seagraves, Instructional Pedagogy & Curriculum Materials Librarian
- From former Dean Sarah Steele: Jennifer is an active learner herself, always sharpening the tools in her instructional tool belt, through participation in the POD Network and participation in the Annual Conference on Higher Education Pedagogy. Relationship rich education is the defining nature of Jennifer’s interactions with campus colleagues and students. She has collaborated with faculty and departments across campus to develop the TRC workshops. She is also known for her collaborative nature among library colleagues.