Office of the President

Dr. Fred K. Whitt

Dr. Frederick (Fred) K. Whitt is Lenoir-Rhyne University’s 12^th president. The Board of Trustees made the much anticipated announcement on October 24, 2016. Faculty, staff, students, board members, constituents and other friends of LR filled Grace Chapel to welcome and meet Dr. Whitt, who officially assumed his new role on February 1, 2017.

Dr. Whitt succeeds Dr. Wayne B. Powell who has served as University President for the past 14 years. "Dr. Whitt has a long history of distinguished leadership in higher education,” Dr. Powell said. “I am confident that Dr. Whitt is the right person at the right time to lead Lenoir-Rhyne to even greater heights in the next generation."

Dr. Whitt brings over 30 years of successful leadership experience in higher education to Lenoir-Rhyne. Previously, Dr. Whitt served as Founding Dean of the Beaver College of Health Sciences (BCHS) at his alma mater, Appalachian State University. He has served as Dean since 2010 when he was appointed to lead the development of the first new college at Appalachian State in over 40 years. Dr. Whitt’s visionary leadership, passion for excellence, commitment for creating a collaborative culture, and development of significant community partnerships are credited for the success he has achieved at Appalachian State. The BCHS has doubled in enrollment over the first four years of existence and is now the second largest college at Appalachian with 3,400 students. In addition, new graduate degree programs have been added and construction has begun on the new $80 million, 203,000 square foot health sciences building (scheduled for completion mid-2018). Dr. Whitt is also credited with the establishment of Appalachian’s successful partnership with the Wake Forest School of Medicine, which is the first of its kind in the UNC system. Additionally, he secured funding for the first two endowed professorships in BCHS and was responsible for establishing the Dean’s Scholarship, now the third most prestigious scholarship at Appalachian State.

Dr. Whitt expressed his excitement about his new appointment. “I am beyond excited about this extraordinary opportunity at Lenoir-Rhyne. I am honored and humbled to be named the 12^th President of Lenoir-Rhyne University. I have always had great respect for Lenoir-Rhyne. The bedrock principles that are unique to Lenoir-Rhyne are values I enthusiastically embrace and support. I welcome this incredible opportunity to work with faculty, staff, students and the greater community to advance the strategic plan of LR and lead the University to an even higher level of excellence.”

“I believe that Dr. Whitt has the talent, experience and enthusiasm to lead Lenoir-Rhyne to new levels of achievement, said Boyd George, Chairman of LRU Board of Trustees and Chief Executive Officer of Alex Lee, Inc. “I am excited by the potential growth under his leadership and look forward to what the future will bring.” George initially headed the search committee following Dr. Powell’s announcement of his retirement in September 2015.

Dr. Whitt earned his Doctorate from the University of Tennessee, and his Master or Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees from Appalachian State. Prior to joining Appalachian State, he served as Dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences at Georgia Southern University from 1992 to 2010.

A native of NC, Dr. Whitt grew up in Mt. Holly about 40 miles south of Hickory. His wife, Donna, is also a NC native and a Nurse Educator. They have been married for 38 years and are the proud parents of two adult married sons. In his spare time, Dr. Whitt enjoys landscaping and yardwork, music, the arts, following college sports, and spending time with family.