President's Report | 2021-2022

PRESIDENT'S REPORT 2021-2022

A YEAR OF GROWTH AND INNOVATION

Your support has made a powerful impact in the lives of students , equipping them to bring significant change to their spheres of influence in our world at large. ”

Dear Friends,

The 2021-22 academic and fiscal year was an extraordinary one for Eastern University. This year was filled with growth and innovation. Highlights included a 52% increase in overall enrollment, renewed Vision, Mission, and Values statements, and the launch of our new football team! It has been an exciting, record-breaking year for Eastern.

Through it all, my favorite part has been seeing the beneficial effect our caring, faith-filled community has on the lives of students. Eastern truly offers something unique and wonderful.

We are deeply grateful for all of the partners who have made this incredible year possible. Your support has made a powerful impact in the lives of students, equipping them to bring significant change to their spheres of influence in our world at large. If you would like to join us in this meaningful work, we would love to talk with you about the many ways you can make an investment of time, talent, or treasure.

May God generously bless you for your partnership in this transformative endeavor of equipping students for lives of Faith, Reason, and Justice.

With enthusiasm and appreciation,

Gratefully yours,

Ronald A. Matthews President, Eastern University

Eastern University grows over the last 2 years

Eastern University is pleased to report a 52% increase in total enrollment over the last two years. From Spring 2020 to Spring 2022, the University grew from 3,174 to 4,815 students.

While many programs at Eastern have grown over the last several years, the biggest increase has come from Eastern’s innovative LifeFlex™ graduate programs, which feature fully online, flexibly-paced modalities with radically inexpensive price tags. Approximately 2,500 students enrolled in our LifeFlex™ programs between Fall 2020 and Summer 2022.

NEW LIFEFLEX™ PROGRAMS

MBA in Organizational Management $9,900

Finish in as little as 10 months.

MS in Data Science $9,900

Finish in as little as 10 months.

Master of Social Work $14,400 for students with advanced standing. Finish in 1-2 years.

We look forward to continuing to serve students by providing affordable, high-quality programs that prioritize their need for flexibility.

LEARN MORE About eastern’s exciting enrollment growth at eastern.edu/growth

Community Highlights

Celebrating exciting moments in academics, athletics, and the arts

LAUNCHING FOOTBALL, CHEER, AND DANCE

This year, Eastern University formally announced the addition of Football to its athletic offerings starting in the fall of 2022. In addition to Football, Eastern saw the launch of its new Cheer and Dance teams, and anticipates a Pep Band. A new Football and Track complex was built through a partnership with the nearby Valley Forge Military Academy. A full coaching staff was also hired, and 94 students were recruited for the football team’s inaugural season in 2022. The team is set to begin competition in the NCAA Middle Atlantic Conference in the fall of 2023.

FIRST ANNUAL SCIENCE & RELIGION SYMPOSIUM

This exciting inaugural two-day symposium, hosted by Palmer Theological Seminary, highlighted the work of professors in the fields of astronomy, medicine, and ecotheology. The event was held on Eastern University’s St. Davids Campus in the McInnis Auditorium and via livestream. The symposium came as part of Palmer’s selection to participate in the Science for Seminaries project, sponsored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science through their Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion program, in partnership with the Association of Theological Schools.

Extra-curricular activities are a key part of a vibrant collegiate experience. This year brought exciting new programs as well as rich opportunities for students to engage in long-standing, beloved activities. The future ahead is bright! ”

KENTON L. SPARKS, MBA, PHD PROVOST, EASTERN UNIVERSITY

FINE ARTS PERFORMANCES

DANCE: The highly original, thought-provoking Winter Dance Concert, entitled “Musings,” reflected the choreographic talents of our students and faculty. The Spring dance performance, “Spring Forward,” featured the original works of students and faculty with styles including modern, jazz, tap, ballet, and pointe.

THEATRE: This year’s creative performances included a delightful production of “Almost Maine”; a dynamic original musical theatre production titled “Still Here”; the beloved annual Performing Arts Living Room; and the innovative “24-Hour New Play Workshop.”

MUSIC: Eastern’s Spring Music Festival was a fantastic night featuring Eastern’s instrumental and vocal ensembles including seasonal, sacred, classical, and original repertoire. Our renowned vocal touring ensemble, Turning Point, also recorded two songs at a professional recording studio, with one song dedicated to the people of Ukraine.

Renewed Vision, Mission, & Values Statements

Over the past year, the Eastern University community undertook an extensive, thoughtful, and collaborative process of reviewing and updating our Mission, Vision, and Values statements. Throughout this journey, we committed to both honoring the past and boldly looking toward the future.

VISION

These statements articulate our identity as a Christian institution and keep us accountable to our mission shaped by God’s kingdom values and justice. Daily, they inspire us, strengthen us, and remind us of the great importance of the legacy of Eastern University.

As a community, Eastern University will Listen. Love. Learn. Lead.

MISSION

Eastern University is a diverse, Christ-centered community preparing graduates to impact the world through Faith, Reason, and Justice.

E xcellence

We strive to achieve the highest standards in serving our community through distinctive academic experiences, student services, and community life.

A uthenticity s tewardship t houghtfulness e nthusiasm r elationships

We live with integrity and honesty, upholding the highest ethical standards as we seek to honor God with our lives, relationships, and work.

i n novation

We treat our resources as gifts God has entrusted to us, including our earth, environment, facilities, and finances.

Inspired by our commitment to truth, we think deeply, holistically, and critically about the world God has given us, benefiting from the insights offered by each individual in our rich learning community.

Anchored by our hope and joy in Christ, we approach each situation with optimism, working toward favorable outcomes, and celebrating our successes.

With an attitude of humility and kindness, we honor and respect the dignity of each individual, promoting community, working to bring reconciliation to broken relationships, and championing diversity, equity, and belonging.

Promoting accessibility and affordability, we seek new and more effective approaches to education, exercising creativity to chart inventive paths forward into the future.

The 2022-27 Strategic Plan of Eastern University

Beginning July 1, 2022, Eastern launched a new five-year strategic plan. The title of this plan reflects our collective hope for what we will accomplish together: Inspire. Innovate. Impact.

Our strategic plan outlines five imperatives that we have identified as key action steps

for Eastern over the next five years. We look forward to this exciting next chapter of preparing Eastern graduates to impact the world through Faith, Reason, and Justice.

READ THE Full Details of the plan at eastern.edu/impact.

Cultivating Community

We will intentionally and systemically create a united, diverse, and equitable Christian community of belonging.

Flourishing Employees

We will continue to invest in our employees’ well-being with a focus on compensation, quality of life, recruitment, and retention.

Funding Strategically

We will elevate the Eastern experience through increased income and philanthropic support of University strategic initiatives.

JOIN US IN MAKING AN IMPACT

invite you to join us in this meaningful work of making a difference in student’s lives, and through them, a powerful impact in our society and the Church. If you are interested, we would love to talk with you about the many ways you can make an investment of time, talent, or treasure.

Honoring donors who have made gifts this year totaling...

$100,000 or more

Anonymous (2)

Pamela Merriman and Richardson Merriman

$50,000 - $99,999

Catherine Cope Clemens ’92 and Steve Clemens ’91

Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation

Lansdowne Baptist Church

Sherry Lauter and Robert Lauter PA Department of Education

The W. W. Smith Charitable Trust

Donor Honor Roll

Eastern University values its loyal benefactors who have made significant gifts to the university this year. This list celebrates donors who have given more than $5,000 in fiscal year 2022, covering the dates of July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022. We are incredibly grateful for your generosity and partnership, which enables us to make a powerful difference in the lives of students.

View our full Donor Honor Roll at eastern.edu/donors.

$25,000 - $49,999

Anonymous (2)

Aramark Global Business Services

Comloquoy Charitable Foundation Trust Diana Drew Harbison

Lucille Huff and Joel Huff H ’03

Dick Jones

Katherine McNabb and F. William McNabb, III

Constance McNamara and Mike McNamara

Stephanie Olson and Charles Olson, III ’90

Margaret Vardy and Peter Vardy H ’09

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the donor list. If a name has been misspelled, a gift reported incorrectly, or you have any questions about your giving history, please email advservices@eastern.edu.

$10,000 - $24,999

Anonymous (2)

Colby Madden and Bill Bosch

Compass Ion Advisors, LLC

Nancy Davis

Daryl Drummond

Gretchen Ekeland, MS ’14

FieldTurf USA Inc

Flaherty Family Foundation

D’Aun Goble and Roy Goble

Margaret Hill and Arthur Hill, Jr.

Independence Blue Cross Foundation

Johnson & Johnson Matching Gifts

Deepa Kurian-Joy and Aljit Joy

Kimberly Kane and Matthew Kane ’93

Jean Bartholomew Kim ’61 and Roy Kim †

Edwin M. Lavino Foundation Trust Gaye Matherly

Pamela Matthews and Ronald Matthews (F/S)

Erik Meader, PhD ’16

Karen Moore and Mark Moore ’77, MDiv ’80

Meg Morrison and Jeffrey Morrison

Leah Welding Mulhearn ’03 and Jim Mulhearn, Jr. ’03

Northwestern Mutual Matching Gifts

Patricia Kind Family Foundation

Susana Rohrer and Daniel Rohrer

Doris Rowlands and David Rowlands, Jr. ’63

Sarah S. McLeod Trust

Jennifer Sarteau and Herve Sarteau

Jon Seltenheim

Colleen McClure Shute ’02 and Adam Shute ’01

Sodexo, Inc.

Stewart Huston Charitable Trust Andrew Street

Stephanie Maier Summers, MS ’08 and Jason Summers

J. Howard Supplee Memorial Fund Trust

Elizabeth Webb Swingle ’59 and David Swingle ’59

Peggy Parker Thomas ’63 and F. Ardell Thomas, II ’63

Sandra Velarde and Rodney Velarde Frances S. Wiggen Trust

$5,000 - $9,999

Anonymous

ABC World Mission Support AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc. -Matching

LaVonne Althouse, DMin ’81

American Baptist Churches USA

American Baptist Foundation

Chloe Brown Bass ’06 and Jared Bass, Esq. ’07 Fran Brown Burkey Corporation

Irene Campbell and Ken Campbell CapinCrouse LLP

Alexandra Cardone and Michael Cardone, III Althea J. Carnell Residuary Trust

The Chatlos Foundation, Inc.

CSI International, Inc. Dayspring Foundation

Mary Dietrich and Wayne Dietrich, Esq. ’66

Lucia Englander Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church Estate of C. Frederick Fetterolf †

JoAnn Gambone and Joe Gambone, Jr.

Carol Gangewer

Sharon Gibbs

Carol Mudie Gilliford ’71 and Jay Gilliford ’71

Sally Hartman and Ronald Hartman ’71

Melissa Helton and T. Michael Helton

Earlene Hope and William Hope ’66

Anthony Horvath

Lara Hoyem

Jenny Iott and Andrew Iott

IT Landes

Gigi Latta and Alexander Latta, MTS ’03

Lisa Lynch and Gary Lynch

Marilyn Marles and Blake Marles

Robert E. Matherly Family Trust

Ruth McKeaney and Robert McKeaney

Jessica McNelley and Eric McNelley (F/S)

Metropolitan Christian Council of Philadelphia

Dorothy Moffitt and Robert Moffitt ’61 ’65, MDiv ’71

Pattison Sports Group, LLC

Pfizer Matching Gifts

Barbara Russell

Leah Kim and Robert Tomilson Tracorp

Ellyn Waller and Alyn Waller, DMin ’98 Wohlsen Construction

Estate of Catherine Parker Wrisley ’63 †

Linda Young and Gary Young ’75

F/S = Faculty/Staff

† = Deceased

H = Honorary Degree

Office of the President, Fowler Hall