PBA CAMPUS
Enlightening Minds Enriching Souls Extending Hands
Thomas P. McCaffrey (Chair)
Business Executive (retired)
Chandra Bill-Rabenecker (Vice-Chair)
Chick-fil-A, Royal Palm Beach and The Mall at Wellington Green
Wayne W. Cotton (Secretary) Cotton Consulting Group
Michael J. Stevens (Treasurer) Rinker Enterprises, Inc.
Rev. Walter B. Arnold III First Presbyterian Church in North Palm Beach (retired)
Ginger Bills Community Leader
William C. Bradford ’96 MBA Hanson Professional Services, Inc.
Cathleen Burk Attorney
Terriel Byrd
Living Word Christian Community, Emeritus Faculty of PBA
Mark H. Campbell ’00 Campbell CFO Services, LLC
Board of Trustees
Kim Elliott Community leader
Scott G. Hawkins, Esq. Jones Foster
James C. Jenkins Esko, Inc.
James J. Johnston Business Executive (retired)
R.Marshall Jones Jones Lowry
Mami Kisner Tabernacle Church
Patrick C. Koenig Flagler Realty and Development, Inc.
Richard A. Krause
Theodore R. and Vivian M. Johnson Scholarship Foundation, Inc. (retired)
Grace Kurian NextEra Energy, Inc.
John W. Little III, Esq. Gunster Law Firm Foundation, Inc.
Sara McCann Hive
Robert Pacienza Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church
Sandy Rogers Founder & Leader of Franklin Covey’s Loyalty Practice
Steven G. Scalici ’95 UBS Financial Services, Inc.
James H. Scroggins IV Family Church West Palm Beach
Susan Sorrell NFI Consumer Products
Timothy S. Sotos Business Executive (retired)
Karl H. Watson, Jr. ’87 Baker Construction Enterprises, Inc.
Karl H. Watson, Sr. CEMEX (retired)
LIFE TRUSTEES
Charles R. Dorsey, Jr.
John P. Greene III
Thomas R. Pledger, Sr.
Robert W. Simpson
TRUSTEE EMERITUS
John Gregory
The Hon. W. Matthew Stevenson
MISSION
Palm Beach Atlantic University equips students to grow in wisdom, lead with conviction and serve God boldly.
VISION
Palm Beach Atlantic University’s vision is to be the premier Christian university offering whole-person education that prepares students from around the globe to tackle the problems of their day with godly character, open arms and a servant’s heart.
The President’s Cabinet
Dr. Stephen Johnson*
Provost and Chief
Academic Officer
Dr. Steve Alderman
Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel
Scott Barnes
Vice President for Information Technology Services / CIO
Laura C. Bishop*
Executive Vice President for Advancement
Dr. Debra A. Schwinn
University President
Dr. Stacie Bowie*
Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration/ CFO
Dr. Nancy Brainard*
Executive Vice President for Enrollment Management
Courtney Lovely Evans
Director of Athletics
Cara Wald
Vice President for Human Resources
* Denotes Executive Team Member
Our Students
709 dual-enrolled and non-degree-seeking students total students online and on two campuses: West Palm Beach and Orlando 4,147
2,603 total undergraduates
835 total graduate students
4,147 Total Students
• Total 4,147 (fall 2024)
• 2,403 traditional day (West Palm Beach)
• 551 master’s students (West Palm Beach, Orlando and online)
• 232 professional doctoral students
• 43 Ph.D. students
• 705 dual-enrolled students
• 1,511 residential students
• Over 19,000 alumni
Academic Excellence
Highly-Qualified and Caring Faculty
• Undergrad student-faculty ratio: 13 to 1
• Avg. day undergraduate class size: 20
• 82% of undergraduate classes have fewer than 30 students
• 84% of full-time teaching faculty hold the highest degree in their field
• 164 full-time teaching faculty
Academic Programs
• 73 undergraduate majors
• 17 master’s programs
• 3 doctoral programs (DNP, Pharm.D. and Ph.D. in practical theology)
• Graduate degrees in business, computer science, counseling, divinity, educational leadership, international development, leadership, nursing and more
17 Fulbright awards in just seven years!
Schools and Colleges
College of the Arts
Marshall E. Rinker, Sr. School of Business
School of Education and Behavioral Studies
School of Health Professions
Catherine T. MacArthur School
School of Liberal Arts and Sciences
School of Ministry
School of Nursing
Lloyd L. Gregory School of Pharmacy
Centers of Excellence
David and Leighan Rinker Center for Experiential Learning
Center for Financial Literacy
Center for Global Leadership
Gregory Center for Medical Missions
Center for Integrative Science Learning
LeMieux Center for Public Policy
Titus Center for Franchising
Worship Distinctives
Worship is the practice of honoring God in everything that we do, which includes regular services in the beautiful DeSantis Family Chapel.
Workship served since 1968 million hours 4
Every PBA student serves at least 45 hours each year
Now into its fifth decade, Workship is a distinctive community service program that responds to human needs with Christ-like action in the community and the world. Through community service, students can discern their vocation and develop a life-long habit of servant leadership. To date, Palm Beach Atlantic students have volunteered over 4 million hours.
Wordship
Part of the mission to walk in the redemptive steps of Jesus is learning to use our words in ways that give God glory and point others toward Him. With Wordship we endeavor to activate hearts in using the power of our speech to cultivate greater health, satisfaction, reconciliation and healing in our conversations.
Council for Intercultural Engagement (CIE(
Founded in 2020, CIE exists to foster a climate of trust and respect as it helps students, faculty and staff to think differently about various cultures and diversity.
The Heart and Soul of West Palm Beach
Economic Impact
$435.6 million impact on Palm Beach County economy (2023-2024)
Arts
PBA’s 19-acre campus, located across the street from numerous Fortune 500 companies, positions its students in high demand for internships and employment. Many companies have recognized the immediate benefit of having a dynamic, local university producing capable young leaders as a solidifying reason to establish roots in West Palm Beach.
• College of the Arts, now offering B.F.A. degrees
• Annual International Piano Festival
• Dance masterclasses with acclaimed professionals
• International opportunities in Italy and France
• Opportunities with world-class institutions, including the Norton Museum of Art, Society of the Four Arts, Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, Palm Beach Opera, Palm Beach Symphony and more
Athletics
18 341
100+ Varsity programs studentathletes
• Members of NCAA Division II and Sunshine State Conference
• 76-acre, state-of-the-art facilities: Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Athletic Campus and John and Sheila Rinker Sports Center, only a couple miles from main campus
student music, theatre and dance performances annually
American Free Enterprise
PBA affirms the values and institutions that historically have informed American society, including religious liberty and the system of free enterprise. We aim to develop in each of our students an appreciation for the unique American achievement in its many dimensions - social, political, economic, moral, legal and religious. Each year, we honor leaders who exemplify these values at our American Free Enterprise Day event.
Honors and Accolades
• Princeton Review 2024 ranked PBA among best Southern regional colleges and universities
• Marshall E. Rinker Sr. School of Business earned AACSB accreditation in May 2023 - PBA is one of just 10 Christian universities in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) to receive AACSB accreditation
• Ranked in Military Times’ 2023 Best for Vets as one of the colleges offering exceptional support to veterans
• Top 15 best nursing schools in Florida by Nursing Schools Almanac
• Top 20 winning overall programs by Broadcast Education Association Festival of Media Arts nationwide
Alumni Spotlight
With over 19,000 graduates, our alumni make an impact in the highest levels of business, health care, education, government, ministry, the arts and more. PBA alumni include a U.S. Tax Court judge, a Tony Award winner, a consul general, as well as the alumni featured below.
PBA named Carter Viss ’17 as the 2022 Alumni of the Year.
On Thanksgiving Day 2019, Viss was struck by a 36-foot boat while snorkeling on the Breakers Reef. He lost his right arm on impact and had severe damage to both of his legs and left wrist. After making a miraculous recovery, Viss teamed up with the boat’s driver to make positive changes in the diving and boating communities.
Emmanuel McNeely
Michele Rigby Assad ’95 served the United States as an agent with the Central Intelligence Agency, spending a decade working as an undercover intelligence officer. Specializing in counterterrorism and counterintelligence, she worked side-by-side with her husband in Iraq and other secret Middle Eastern locations. She released a book that details her journey of faith and perseverance.
Emmanuel McNeely ’12 was named the 2021 CCCU Young Alumni Award winner. He and his wife, Sa’Rah McNeely, launched the Dr. M.D. Project to increase the number of underrepresented minorities who successfully pursue degrees in medicine.
Carter Viss
Michele Rigby Assad
Financial and Accreditation Data
• Undergraduate annual tuition: $39,400
• 92.5% of all degree-seeking students receive some form of financial aid
• $113.8 million operating budget
• $101.7 million audited endowment
Palm Beach Atlantic University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award the following degrees: bachelor’s, master’s, doctor of pharmacy, doctor of nursing practice and doctor of philosophy.
For questions about the accreditation of Palm Beach Atlantic University, contact the Commission on Colleges at: 1866 Southern Lane Decatur, GA 30033-4097
404.679.4500 or www.sacscoc.org
Persons wishing to review documents related to the accreditation of Palm Beach Atlantic University should contact the Assistant Provost for Accreditation and Assessment at 561.803.2050. To view additional specialized accreditation information, visit pba.edu.
President’s Giving Societies
Palm Beach Atlantic University is profoundly grateful for the individuals who choose to support the university through the President’s Giving Society. This special group of leadership-level supporters is regularly engaged in unique opportunities by PBA’s President, Dr. Debra Schwinn and other university leaders.
Some of these include:
• Exclusive PBA information from the President
• Invite-only retreats and donor trips with PBA’s President and leadership-level supporters
• Special access to VIP events and activities such as receptions, guest lectures and unique events (Past speakers include Mike Pompeo, Tony Blair, Dan Cathy and more)
• Reserved seating for PBA music, theater and dance performances
We invite you to become a supporter of the PBA President’s Fellowship, President’s Circle or President’s Council.
President’s Fellowship level donors support PBA with annual giving of $10,000+
President’s Circle level donors support PBA with annual giving of $25,000+
For more information, please contact the Office of Development at Development@pba.edu or 561.803.2777. You can also visit pba.edu/pressociety.
President’s Council level donors support PBA with annual giving of $50,000+
In January 2024, PBA broke ground on the Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Business Hall. The six-story, 125,000 square-foot state-of-the-art facility will be located in the center of campus and will house PBA’s AACSB-accredited Marshall E. Rinker, Sr. School of Business. The building will feature a 300+ seat lecture hall, flexible classrooms, event spaces and a functional stock trading room with live market data.
Naming opportunities are available. To learn more, visit pba.edu/naming.
