Chowan University President Rosemary M. Thomas spotlights servant leadership in higher education

Rosemary M. Thomas, Chowan University’s 24th president, is being highlighted for a nearly four-decade career in higher education leadership, fundraising, enrollment management and board governance. The profile points to her background as a signal of how smaller private colleges are balancing student success, financial stability and mission-driven leadership.

Why it matters: - Chowan University is led by a president with direct experience in enrollment management, fundraising, board governance and leadership development. - Those skills matter most for smaller private institutions, where student recruitment, retention and donor support can shape financial health and campus stability. - Thomas’s profile also reflects a broader push in higher education toward servant leadership, relationship-building and mission-driven management.

What happened: - Influential Women highlighted Rosemary M. Thomas, president of Chowan University in Murfreesboro, North Carolina. - Thomas is the 24th president of Chowan University, a Christian university that describes itself as a life skills university grounded in Christian education. - The profile frames Thomas as a higher education leader with nearly four decades of experience. - Thomas’s career began in 1988 as a student employee in the president’s office at Clemson University. - She later held leadership roles at Fairmont State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Salisbury University and Glenville State College. - She also served as vice president of enrollment management and institutional advancement, then executive vice president, at Davis and Elkins College. - Before becoming president, Thomas was chief operating officer at the Washington, D.C., international office of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs.

The details: - At Davis and Elkins College, Thomas led a campus-wide student retention initiative. - She also helped drive a $100 million fundraising campaign to completion. - Her specialties include team building, leadership development, servant leadership, fundraising, enrollment management and board governance. - Thomas has received three awards during her career. - Her education includes a bachelor’s degree in political science and government from Clemson University, a Master of Public Administration from the University of South Carolina and a Doctor of Education from West Virginia University. - Thomas completed postdoctoral studies at Harvard University. - She is a member of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, the American Cancer Society and the American Legion Auxiliary through its Girls State and Boys State programs. - Her civic and volunteer work also includes Community Care of West Virginia, the United Way and foster youth support initiatives. - Thomas is a native of Fairmont, West Virginia. - She describes her leadership approach as rooted in faith, integrity and servant leadership. - She advises young women entering higher education to lead with integrity, practice patience and build meaningful professional relationships early.

Between the lines: - The profile argues that college presidents now need to balance academic quality, budget management, donor relations and student support at the same time. - That pressure is especially strong at smaller private colleges, where enrollment and fundraising can determine long-term sustainability. - Thomas’s background in both higher education and nonprofit leadership fits that reality. - The emphasis on servant leadership suggests Chowan University is presenting leadership as relational as well as operational. - The profile also positions faith, family and community engagement as central to Thomas’s public leadership identity.

What’s next: - Thomas is expected to continue focusing on student engagement, institutional sustainability and community partnerships at Chowan University. - Her leadership will likely center on retention, fundraising, board collaboration and mission alignment. - The profile suggests continued emphasis on mentorship, civic engagement and leadership development across the university’s community.

The bottom line: - Thomas’s presidency reflects a model of higher education leadership built on service, fundraising experience and student-centered strategy.