On June 20, 2024, Dr. Rosemary M. Thomas concluded her 100 days as the first female president of Chowan University.  Below is a message from her to the campus community:

Greetings!

As I think back on the past 100 days, I am humbled to have been given this opportunity to serve as your president. The people I have met, the places I have been, the understanding I continue to gain… are constant reminders that perhaps I was indeed made for a time such as this. How truly blessed I am to now call 100 Jones Drive my home and the people of Chowan University, my family. 

While I hesitate to name names since so many of you have been kind and generous with your words and thoughtfulness… it seems appropriate to convey the meaning behind the precious gift I was given by Dr. Jill Awuni on that very first night in the chapel. It was placed in my office the next day and has been a visual symbol of my responsibilities as a leader. It is a statue of a human hand holding an egg. The symbol of the egg in the hand depicts the Asante Proverb that suggests powerful leaders must be both firm and prudent. Coupled with my faith in God, I will say this has given me both comfort and pause throughout the last three months, and I will not abandon this notion moving forward. 

I have held tight, but hopefully not too tight, to the ways of this amazing institution. I know we are a university that is changing, but we have values and traditions that we will not abandon. I enjoyed getting to know so many of the seniors and was honored to confer their degrees at graduation. The time between arriving in March and that special day in May included so much of what makes Chowan special. The research presentations, honor society and recognition ceremonies, sporting events, recitals and art shows were amazing to behold. The interactions with our campus ministries are difficult to put into words. Witnessing professions of faith and baptisms during student-led services has been awe-inspiring, to say the least. I cannot wait to be even more engaged with the entire student body going forward.  

Back to the fragility of that egg – I also cannot hold it too loosely, or it may fall and break. This has been the intent with close evaluation of our enrollment challenges that so many of you have stepped up to try to help address. We have all been on the phones, sending messages, meeting with families, and doing all we can to regain the numbers we need and want. I have been working with administrators, trustees, and financial institutions to strengthen our financial position so that it might mirror the true strength of Chowan University which is demonstrated through faculty and staff alike. I am grateful for your patience as we have had to change course even in these first 100 days – to ensure we gather those who are most intent on seeing Chowan succeed by giving her their very best. 

From the very first day in an office filled with flowers and a welcome concert gifted to me by the International Student Club, I have felt embraced by the campus, the community, and the associations. As a single woman, some have asked if I feel alone on this journey. I would say that thought has never even crossed my mind. Thank you not only for welcoming me with open arms but also thank you for your engagement with new members of the leadership team who have already made this their home. With more changes on the horizon, I thank you in advance for your input and fortitude. We are all in this together, and while we may not know the plans God has for us, we find comfort in the fact that He does.

Chowan’s Board of Trustees is a group that has boundless dedication to the institution, and we are blessed by their commitment. It has been my pleasure to work with the board leadership as well as the board members on countless projects right out of the gate. Several have been part of the transition team that has provided me with helpful insight and perspective. Others have led the charge with financial support at all levels. Still, others have been relentless in their efforts to make sure I have opportunities to meet and interact with future donors, granting agencies, policy makers and more. For those who have taken the time to meet with me while I have been traveling – special thanks for your time and hospitality along the way. 

Travels to NCICU, SACSCOC and Conference Carolinas meetings have only reinforced my perceived value and respect Chowan has within the higher education community. It has been a privilege to engage regionally and nationally with media outlets, participate in podcasts, give interviews about who we are as an institution, join classes on tours of areas businesses, and so much more. 

Many days have been filled with project evaluations and partnership meetings. The work in the Hawks Nest continues to move forward and I am pleased to report that we have secured a grant from The Cannon Foundation to advance that project even more quickly and completely than perhaps was expected. We simply must deliver on this promise to the campus. Special thanks to Dr. Chuck Taylor for his work in making sure that project moved forward. Additionally, I have connected with local, regional, and national leadership of both ARAMARK and Pioneer to ensure the expectations are clear going forward. We have some work to do in the dining hall before the students return and we hope you will see the value added right away. 

Looking toward the fall, my inauguration is set for October 18^th, and the theme for the event will be to further define and reveal what I have identified as “Plans to Prosper.” As you know, this is from Jeremiah 29:11, which guides so much of what I try to do as a servant leader. The evolution of FAITH. FAMILY. FUTURE. has been a natural progression from words of the past and unwavering ideals. 

Conversations are ongoing to enhance mental health services, improve campus safety, launch a Hometown University marketing campaign, expand academic offerings to targeted populations, and quickly repurpose several spaces on the front of the campus to restore the vibrancy of Squirrel Park. None of this would be possible without the dedication and commitment of our devoted faculty and staff. Thank you! 

The Five Stones of David (Faith – Trust – Courage – Obedience – Praise) Reverand Mari Wiles subtly placed on my desk prior to my arrival have proven invaluable day in and day out. I have held them, rubbed them, and prayed with them. I am not sitting still; there is no time for that. I am not keeping silent; there is no need for that. I am preparing for the future of Chowan University. We have a story to tell about who we are, what we have to offer, and how we know there are Plans for US to Prosper TOGETHER! 

With faith in our future,