President Dr. Rosemary M. Thomas
Dr. Thomas brings a wealth of experience to her new role, having served as the Executive Vice President at Davis and Elkins College. In that position, she was responsible for enrollment management, marketing and communications, oversight of the dean of student life, dining services, compliance, and special assignments from the president. She also served as Acting Director of Athletics and led the COVID-19 Task Force.

Her first assignment at Davis and Elkins College began in 2017 when she was hired as the Vice President of Enrollment Management and Institutional Advancement. Most notably, during that tenure, she successfully implemented a campus-wide retention initiative and was vital in completing a $100M fundraising campaign.
Prior to her time at Davis and Elkins College, Dr. Thomas held various leadership positions at institutions such as Frostburg State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Salisbury University, and Glenville State College. She served as the Chief Operating Officer at the General Foundation of Women’s Clubs International Office in Washington, DC. Her extensive background in university and foundation management has equipped her with the leadership skills that are essential to leading Chowan University into the future.
Dr. Thomas is also deeply committed to community service and volunteerism. She currently serves as the president of the GFWC Woman’s Club of Elkins, director of American Legion Auxiliary WV Rhododendron Girls State, and president of the Community Care of West Virginia board of directors, to name a few. Her dedication to these organizations reflects her passion for making a positive impact in the communities she serves.
As a nationally recognized speaker and workshop leader, Dr. Thomas has shared her expertise on board relations, volunteer management, fundraising, and marketing strategies. Her focus on leadership development has been instrumental in shaping the lives of leaders from all walks of life.
Dr. Thomas is a proud native of Fairmont, West Virginia. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Communications from Clemson University, a Master of Public Administration from the University of South Carolina, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from West Virginia University. She has also completed post-doctoral work at Harvard University.
The appointment of Dr. Rosemary M. Thomas as the 24th president of Chowan University marks a historic milestone for the institution. Her exceptional qualifications, dedication to community service, and proven leadership abilities make her the ideal candidate to lead Chowan University into its next chapter as a life skills university and foundation of Christian education, to which she is deeply committed.
Board of Trustees
Terms Expiring December 31, 2025
Blake Blythe
Mary Anne Croom
James M. Eason
Austine O. Evans
Carlyle Wimbish
James W. Mason
Jesse E. Vaughan
Linda B. Weaver
Garry Whitaker
Terms Expiring December 31, 2027
Harold W. Babb
Grace G. Brown
Shirley B. Brown
Ronald L. Hicks
Lloyd L. Hill
James T. Johnson Jr.
Betty Jo Shepheard
Julius Smith
Terms Expiring December 31, 2026
Stanley E. Dixon Jr.
Jessica K. Drake
Miley W. Glover
Cecil S. Hollomon Jr.
Billy R. Howell
Julian R. Mills Sr.
Jane E. Newsome
Robbie Parker
Lisa Turner
Barry E. Whitaker
Terms Expiring December 31, 2028
Lynette Bunch
Jane B. Burke
Freddie H. Davis
Ray Felton
Elaine E. Myers
Milton Outten
Walter F. Pierce
Charles B. Pond III
Harvey W. Reinhardt
Elaine E. Myers
W. Frank Rose Jr.
Hugh “Butch” Wilson
Trustees Emeriti
Dewey W. Wells, Blowing Rock, NC
Past Presidents
Archibald McDowell, 1848-1849, 1862-1881
Martin Rudolf Forey, 1849-1854
William Hooper, 1854-1862
John Bruce Brewer, 1881- 1896, 1918-1920
William Oscar Petty, 1896- 1897
John Catre Scarborough, 1897-1909
James Dowden Bruner, 1909-1914
Gustavus Ernest Lineberry, 1914-1918
Preston Stewart Vann, 1920-1923
Charles Preston Weaver, 1923-1925
Ward Blowers Edwards, 1926-1935
Roy Ray McCulloch, 1936-1937
John Lee Carrick, 1937-1941
Henry Haddon Dudley, 1941-1943
Bonnie David Bunn, 1949-1951
Forrest Orion Mixon, 1951-1956
Bruce E. Whitaker, 1957-1989
Jerry Francis Jackson, 1989-1995
Herman Collier, Interim, 1995-1996
Stanley George Lott, 1996-2003
Martin Christopher White, 2003-2018
Kirk Edward Peterson, 2018-2023
Harold Babb, Acting, March 2023
Charles E. “Chuck” Taylor, Interim, 2023-2024
Office of the President
McDowell Columns Hall
One University Place
Murfreesboro, NC 27855
Administrative Assistant
Tina Ashley
Murfreesboro, NC 27855
Administrative Assistant
Tina Ashley