Ninth president inaugurated

‘Transformative leader’

inaugurated as president

Dr. Debra A. Schwinn outlines a bright vision for PBA’s future: Purpose, People and Possibilities

A university’s presidential inauguration usually celebrates the coming of the new president, but in a belated ceremony Oct. 8, some 600 people turned out to applaud the president who so ably had led Palm Beach Atlantic University through the unique challenges of the prior 17 months. “Dr. Schwinn is a transformative leader who is grounded in deep faith, who is continuously prayerful and who has boundless energy, strength, courage and perseverance needed to help guide this university to be the shining light on the hill,” said Timothy Sotos, chairman of the University’s Board of Trustees. Schwinn, a physician, scientist and former medical school dean, had assumed the presidency on May 4, 2020, but the pandemic delayed her inauguration. “Before COVID, who could have imagined that having a president who is also a medical doctor would be so useful during a global pandemic?” she said. “Only God could have ordained such details.” Schwinn’s old friend and medical colleague Dr. Carmen L. Green introduced her at the installation ceremony at Family Church Downtown, across the street from the University. Green, dean of the CUNY School of Medicine at the City College of New York, called Schwinn an accomplished, iconic scientist and scholar with a “true gift” of leadership. “As a member of the National Academy of Medicine,

A crowd of 600 turned out for the installation ceremony at Family Church Downtown.

Newly installed President Schwinn is applauded, with Trustee Chairman Timothy Sotos at right and at left, Trustee Mami Kisner, who offered a prayer of dedication. Also on the platform were Dr. Jimmy Scroggins, PBA trustee and lead pastor of Family Church; Dr. David Clark, PBA president 2003-2009; and other University trustees.

the premier organization for thought leaders in the sciences, Deb was at the top of the hill, a superstar,” said Green. Schwinn turned down other job offers, Green said, “to go where the Holy Spirit was leading her,” to “help young people on their faith journey and to help them engage on their life of service.” In her installation address, Schwinn told of her operating room days, when she instructed a cardiac surgery trainee to flick a patient’s heart to wake it up. “I share this story,” she said, “because with it I am declaring today our intention to awaken hearts: awaken the hearts of our students to their highest destiny; awaken hearts to God in this generation; awaken PBA anew to its divine purpose.” Schwinn outlined her strategic vision for the University’s future, “framed with three Ps: purpose, people and possibilities.” PBA will stay true to its 53-year-old purpose, she said, “to create Christ-like servant leaders who positively influence our world.” She praised the University’s people: students, faculty and staff, noting that the school has produced eight Fulbright winners in just the last four years. The possibilities for the future, Schwinn said, include numerous new programs, a doubling of enrollment in the next five to seven years, and “an incredibly exciting master plan for our campus of the future.” Campus expansion, she said, will happen with fiscal sustainability, and will “support PBA being the heart and soul of the Palm Beaches in order to impact our nation and our world.” Already, in the last 18 months, Schwinn said, the University has developed more academic degrees than it had created in the previous 30 years. “I declare to you today that we have not just survived the last 53 years and the recent COVID pandemic,” she said. “We have thrived, and this is our moment to lead.”