Fall 2015 Enrollment tops 1,200 October 2014 Schreiner University named to Top 50 Colleges for Hispanic Students by bestcolleges.com April 2014 Loftis Family Science Center and Observatory on Weston property
Fall 2014 Online RN to BSN program 2013 C ommons/Memorial Wall and Dining Hall renovation 2013 Title V Grant—$3.25 million over 5 years July 2013 Schreiner joins SCAC
February 2012 Weston Farm property acquired Fall 2011 Phase II of The Oaks Fall 2009 $ 7 million 170-bed Faulkner Residence Hall opens
schreiner.edu Summer 2016
Schreiner is known for its caring, personal attention, and Summerlin embodies that philosophy. Search Internet social networks, and it’s easy to find Schreiner students who have posted “selfies” with Dr. Summerlin. He is their president, and they are his students. And it’s no act. He enjoys interacting with the students. “I believe it is an extension of a prime reason that I was attracted to education in the first place,” said Summerlin. “Being with growing, developing minds; helping others through the often bewildering process of change; and simply coming to know other persons and their individual stories— those are parts of life that I enjoy.” “It brings to mind a line from Emily Dickinson—‘I dwell in possibility.’ With students, one can dwell in possibility, even when one is old!” The sincerity of Summerlin’s relationship with students is what counts, said Dr. Charles Hueber, dean of students. “I have had the opportunity to interact with over a dozen college and university presidents, and in terms of student interaction I have never seen a president as active as Dr. Summerlin. “He knows students by name, he attends social, athletic, and academic events, but most of all he makes a genuine effort to connect to them. The students know he cares and his love for Schreiner is shared in and shown through his interactions with them.” During May, another side of Dr. Summerlin’s relationship with the campus community was emphasized: leadership and compassion in the face of tragedy. The death of student Greg Partridge in a highway accident was followed two weeks later by a fatal airplane crash in Mississippi that took the lives of assistant professor Jack Jackson, his wife Gwynn Groggel, and former associate professor Charles Torti and his wife Carrie. “Tim has been a warm and compassionate leader as the campus has faced tragedy,” said the Rev. Gini Norris-Lane, campus minister. “On the night we found out about Greg’s passing, Tim came to the Campus Ministry Center to be with the students from the shooting team, and quietly went from student to student, offering words of comfort and support. He also made an effort to do the same with Greg’s family as they grieved the loss of their son. “In my years at Schreiner, time and time again Tim has offered this kind of compassionate leadership, which comes from his deep faith and true love for the Schreiner family.”
Retirement The Summerlins plan on remaining in Kerrville—where they are active in numerous community organizations—after his retirement. They are looking forward to being able to do more traveling. “Mary Ellen and I hope to travel a bit more, particularly at times of the year which in the past have not been available,” he said. He will no longer officially be employed, but Summerlin leaves open the possibility he will do service in some capacity. “I hope to find some way to be useful, but here my Presbyterian instincts emerge. Rather than try to plan too finely, I prefer to be open to a call.” 7