26 Apr Dr. Sherilyn Emberton – New HU President

Dr. Sherilyn Emberton with Huntington University students at a reception on April 26.

“Today is a great day to become a Forester,” said Dr. Sherilyn Emberton upon being introduced as the next president of Huntington University.

On April 26, Dr. Emberton was chosen by the Huntington University Board of Trustees to be its 13th president–and the first female president in the school’s 116-year history. Dr. Emberton will assume that role on June 1. Dr. G. Blair Dowden, the president for the past 22 years, will retire on May 31.

Dr. Emberton is currently provost and vice president for academic affairs at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, Texas (in east Texas near the Louisiana border). East Texas Baptist is a private Christian liberal arts college which mostly serves the tri-state area of Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. With 1200 students, it’s about the size of Huntington University. And it’s a denominational college, so she’s familiar with those dynamics.

Emberton brings a great deal of experience in program development and fundraising. Also, she has had significant experience with multi-site campuses. This will prove valuable as Huntington University launches a satellite campus in Peoria, Ariz.–another of the momentous decisions made this week by the Board of Trustees.

Dr. Emberton is a highly-gifted leader with extensive higher education administrative experience, including positions at public, private, and faith-based institutions,” said Kelly Savage, board chair.

At a press conference on Friday afternoon, Savage pointed out various qualities.

“She has a business background–knows how to watch the bottom line and to maneuver during rough times,” Savage said. “When we checked references, people said she builds programs. We want a builder.”

Emberton has extensive experience in academic program development, having launched graduate programs in counseling, education, law, medicine, religion, and sports leadership.

Emberton is a lifelong Christian with a love for Christian higher education. She said at the press conference, “I made a conscious decision several years ago that if I was going to pursue an executive position at an institution, it would have to be an institution that focused on faith.”

When asked about community involvement, Dr. Emberton said, “First and foremost, I would want to be involved in my local church.”

A Little About Dr. Emberton

• She was born in Irving, Texas, and brings to Indiana enough of a drawl to confirm that she’s a Texan.
• She is a lifelong Christian.
• She currently attends First Baptist Church in Hallsville, Texas.
• She is single.
• She is described as a great listener with a collegial attitude.
• She has always championed literacy efforts and would want to get involved with that in some way.
• She has a soft spot in her heart for community theater.

Education

• 1979: Bachelor of Science in Education from Stephen F. Austin State University.
• 1981: Master of Education from Stephen F. Austin State University.
• 1999: Doctor of Education from Texas A&M University-Commerce.

Academic Experience

2010 – Present. Provost and vice president for academic affairs at East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, Texas.

2007-2010. Provost and vice president for academic affairs at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tenn. At Lincoln, a secular liberal arts school with an enrollment of over 4300 students, she gave oversight to seven academic schools and 12 off-campus sites in three states, managing an annual budget of $30 million. She instituted offering doctoral degrees in medicine, education, and law, along with professional programs in other health-related fields. She also opened four new off-campus sites in Kentucky and Tennessee.

1999-2007. After completing her doctorate, Emberton was hired by LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas, to lead its new teacher education program. In 2001 she became LeTourneau’s Dean of the School of Education, and in 2005 added the title of Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs. LeTourneau is a Christ-centered university with 2800+ students.

1996-1999. Emberton was Project Director for Applied Learning at Texas State Technical College in Marshall, Texas. This is a public, two-year technical college.

26 Apr HU Science Hall Named in Honor of Dr. Dowden

Dr. G. Blair and Chris Dowden at the April 25 recognition by the HU Board of Trustees.

The Huntington University Science Hall, which opened in 2002, has a new name: the Dowden Science Hall, in honor of Dr. G. Blair Dowden, who will retire on May 31 after 22 years as president of the university.

The renaming came Thursday night, April 25, during a special ceremony. Both Dr. and Mrs. Dowden were also named President Emeritus and First Lady Emerita, respectively, by the Board of Trustees.

“We will remember the two of you and will be forever grateful,” said Dr. C. Ray Miller, former UB bishop and former chairman of the HU Board of Trustees.

The state-of-the-art Dowden Science Hall is home to the university’s programs in nursing, mathematics, computer science, physics, chemistry, biology, pre-med, and environmental science. It is the most significant building project to occur during Dr. Dowden’s presidency, which began in 1991.

18 Apr HU to Announce New President on April 26

At 4 p.m. April 26, Huntington University will host a news conference to announce its 13th president. The announcement will take place in the Longaker Recital Hall, which is located on the lower level of the Merillat Centre for the Arts.

The announcement will follow a Board of Trustees election which will occur earlier that day. The board will also vote on the future of a new campus in Peoria, Ariz., and the occupational therapy initiatives.

In October, after 22 years as president, Dr. G. Blair Dowden (right) announced his plan to retire. His last day as president is May 31, 2013.

Under Dowden’s leadership, the Christian liberal-arts campus has doubled its enrollment, tripled its endowment, and constructed or remodeled eight buildings. Huntington attracted a well-credentialed faculty and a more ethnically diverse student body. Academic programs were significantly expanded for undergraduate, adult, and graduate students. Some of the university’s largest and fastest-growing degree programs were launched during Dowden’s presidency, including nursing and digital media arts. The institution transitioned from “college” to “university” in 2005.