RALEIGH, N.C., April 30, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- William Peace University, (http://www.peace.edu/) a private four-year university located in downtown Raleigh, is proud to announce that WPU President Debra M. Townsley, Ph.D., has been awarded the state of North Carolina's most prestigious award for significant achievement and service, the Order of the Longleaf Pine. The award was presented to the President on Thursday, April 23, 2015, as a part of a dinner held at Carolina Country Club in honor of Townsley's leadership.
In presenting the award on behalf of Governor Pat McCrory, Rick Martinez, spokesman for the Governor and current member of the University Trustees, called Townsley a visionary. In her five years as President for the school, Townsley oversaw the transition from the historically single-gender institution to a coeducational school with a complete re-branding, as well as SACS reaccreditation.
During Townsley's tenure, a period of growth and development ensued at WPU, including: the expansion of University athletics programs (including the 2014-15 USA South Athletic Conference Coach of the Year Award in Men's Basketball Coach Claude Shields) to include Men's Basketball, Baseball, Soccer, Tennis, Golf and Cross Country; the expansion of Hermann Athletic Center to include new office space for coaching and training staff, a second gymnasium, and new locker rooms; the addition of a new Student Services building in central campus; renovation of the Campus Commons to include additional ADA access; refurbishment and installation of new lighting, sound and other equipment in Kenan Auditorium; the new state-of-the-art Simulation and Game Design Lab; a new arts lab; a new business classroom; a new science lab for chemistry and physics; implementation of the Transfer2Success partnership with Wake Technical Community College and an education sharing partnership with St. Timothy's School; updates to Joyner House and the creation of the campus Wellness and Counseling Center; major upgrades to technology infrastructure, including new servers and data centers, internet substructure, classroom and building equipment, software, whiteboards, sound, and classroom technology upgrades; refurbishments in Main Building, including new chandelier wiring and updates in Dinwiddie Chapel; construction updates to the Lucy Cooper Finch Library; the restoration and refurbishment of the iconic Peace Fountain on the campus green; security and public safety technology upgrades to include a new cross-campus warning system, cameras and building access security upgrades; the first-ever sprinkler system in Ross Residence Hall and general residence hall upgrades across campus, including the partnership with off-campus apartment housing development, Wolf Creek, and a shuttle service; implementation of new majors (Musical Theatre, Simulation and Game Design, Criminal Justice, Environmental Studies, Global Studies, Pre-Law, Writing, and renewal of the Anthropology major) and the introduction of new minors and concentrations (Forensics, Leadership and Management Studies, Marketing, Religion, Women's Studies, Sport Management); the implementation of the Duke Energy Honors Leadership Speaker Series and expansion of University Arts and Events programming; the creation of the William Peace University Singers glee club, who act as ambassadors to the community; the purchase of Seaboard Station, expanding the footprint of the University in 2013; and a 69 percent increase in enrollment with a 46 percent diverse population within the student body.
Townsley will retire on June 30, 2015.
"I cannot express how grateful I am to Governor McCrory and the State of North Carolina for this honor," Townsley said. "I am proud of all of the hard work and the significant accomplishments we have achieved these past five years, and I look forward to watching the continued growth of William Peace University because of the foundation we have built for future success."
In addition to her service at William Peace University, Townsley also served as a mentor with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Outreach Program for First-Time Chancellors and Presidents (Division III Colleges and Universities), a member of the NCAA DIII Presidents/Chancellors Advisory Group, a past member of the DIII Financial Aid Committee and past member for the National Recruiting Task Force for the NCAA, a member of the board of directors and past chair for the USA South Athletic Conference (USA SAC), a member of the board of directors and past board chair for the Consortium of Raleigh Colleges (CRC) and Downtown Raleigh Alliance (DRA), a member of the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce Board of Advisors and the Independent College Enterprise (ICE), a member of the board of directors for the National Association of Independent Colleges and universities (NAICU), and past chair for the audit committee and the committee on accountability.
Created in 1965, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine is among the most prestigious awards presented by the Governor of North Carolina and is presented to those who have a proven record of extraordinary service to the state. Contributions to the community, extra effort in their careers, and years of service to their organizations are some of the guidelines by which recipients are selected for this award. The honor is most often presented when a person retires. Originally, the Order was a symbolic honor for visiting dignitaries, but later it became an honor for notable North Carolinians.
For the latest news and updates on William Peace University, please visit: http://www.peace.edu/news/.
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ABOUT WILLIAM PEACE UNIVERSITY:
William Peace University is located in the heart of downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. It was founded in 1857 as Peace Institute, offering education for boys and girls in primary grades and to women from high school to college. Peace, an all-women's college, became a four-year baccalaureate college and graduated its first bachelor's students in August of 1996. Exclusively an all-women's institution for its first 152 years, Peace began offering coeducational evening courses through the William Peace School of Professional Studies in 2009. In 2011, Peace College transitioned to William Peace University and welcomed its first coeducational class to its day program in fall 2012. Its mission is to prepare students for careers in the organizations of tomorrow. On average, more than 90 percent of the university's graduates are placed in jobs or graduate school within one year of graduation. In fact, the University is ranked No. 1 in the nation among colleges with the highest rate of internships, according to a 2013 study conducted by U.S. News & World Report. For more information on WPU, please visit www.peace.edu.