Thomas University President James Andrew “Andy” Sheppard. Photo by Pat Gallagher
Intertwined within the historic community of Thomasville—with its boutiques, antique shops, cafés, and trendy bistros and coffee houses—sits Thomas University. The picturesque campus was once the winter residence of W. Cameron Forbes, former governor-general of the Philippines, ambassador to Japan, and grandson of Ralph Waldo Emerson.
From its beginning in 1950 as Birdwood Junior College, under the direction of the Primitive Baptist Church, the college has steadily grown in size and mission. In 1979, the college became nonsectarian and independent, and the name was changed to Thomas County Community College. Over the next three decades, the school became Thomas College in 1986 and Thomas University in 2000.
Today, Thomas University serves as an independent, not-for-profit, regionally accredited institution with regional, national, and global outreach.
It was not just the historical allure or beauty of the campus that enticed Dr. James Andrew “Andy” Sheppard to become the university’s 12th president. He was drawn by the university’s connection to the community and commitment from the Board of Trustees for future growth.
“I love being involved at a private college; it is like being part of a business on main street,” said Sheppard, who became Thomas University’s president in July 2016. “You don’t receive taxpayer support; you just hang out your shingle and make it work.”
Sheppard gives credit to his predecessor, Dr. Gary Bonvillian, for his contributions toward the physical growth of the campus and expansion of the university’s international programs.
Under the leadership of Bonvillian, who served as president for 10 years, several significant renovations were completed on the main campus, as well as construction of Smith-Bonvillian Hall, the university’s newest academic building. Bonvillian also oversaw the development of the Magnolia Campus, which is located one mile from the main campus, and expanded the university’s footprint from 29 to 74 acres.
The Magnolia Campus now provides increased space for student activities, a renovated gymnasium to house the basketball teams, and two new residence halls, which are part of six planned for this location.
Sheppard continues to transform Thomas University into an institution that attracts students from across Georgia and North Florida, as well as globally.
Thomas University had a fall 2017 enrollment of 1,156 students. Of those, 63 percent were commuter students, 19 percent were residential students, and 18 percent were taking classes entirely online. The average class size is 12 students, which allows Thomas University to sustain a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1.
When speaking to community leaders, Sheppard emphasizes the economic impact Thomas University students have in the region.
“Our students are tied to the university whether they are living on campus or in the community,” Sheppard said. “They are spending roughly $1.4 million annually in goods and services.”
Education Expansion
Expanding educational opportunities for non-traditional students is an integral part of Sheppard’s presidency.
“There are a number of people in our area that have a college degree but either want a career change or to build more skills,” Sheppard said. “This may mean recertification, especially within government jobs.”
Sheppard, who is a member of the National Security Alliance, said with the number of military bases in South Georgia and North Florida, Thomas University is in the perfect location to provide educational courses for government employees and military service personnel.
Thomas University recently opened its Center for Professional Learning to provide industry certification preparation courses and other professional development opportunities that are aligned with Department of Defense guidelines for all branches of the armed services.
Classes are offered in a variety of formats, including virtual classroom, online mentored, and online self-paced.
“Last year there was about $82 million in federal contract money awarded in Thomas County,” Sheppard said. “And half a billion came into our six-county area.”
Sheppard said the Center for Professional Learning is just one of the ways Thomas University is helping people learn new skills for job advancement or a career change.
Thomas University serves a large number of non-traditional degree-seeking students (25 years and older), with an average age of 27 years for undergraduate and 36 years for graduate students.
John Glenn, Thomas University Board of Trustees
John Glenn, who has served on the Thomas University Board of Trustees for more than 25 years, said that helping adults fulfill their goal of a college education is an essential part of the university’s mission.
“One of the main things we do is give people a second opportunity to get a college education,” Glenn said. “We have a significant student body made up of people who either didn’t go to college immediately out of high school or didn’t finish. We are giving the non-traditional students a chance for a college degree.”
Glenn notes that Thomas University’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) program also provides a significant economic value to the region’s workforce.
“Businesses have sent employees to Thomas University to get their MBA, and I think that provides added value to Thomasville,” Glenn said. “We are a regional institution in terms of our non-traditional students. Most people in the community would agree that the university has shown its worth.”
Global Outreach
Thomas University continues to attract students from across the region and state, with 68 percent from Georgia, 27 percent from out of state, and 5 percent from the university’s growing international program.
In 2010, the Thomas China Program established dual-degree programs with three Chinese provincial universities to deliver the Bachelor of Science in registered nurse degree. In 2013, the Bachelor of Science in business administration was added. Students in both programs take courses at their respective university in China, with a combination of Thomas University faculty living in China and others assigned on a rotating basis.
Through a partnership with Jimei University, their students are able to enroll in Thomas University’s accredited MBA program. The program takes three semesters to complete, and all courses are taught on Thomas University’s main campus.
“Thomas University has been cultivating collaborative arrangements with Chinese partner universities since 2010. The programming focuses mainly on nursing and business degree programs,” Sheppard said. “Both fit well with our mission to provide transformative experiences for Chinese students who learn about U.S. healthcare and business models. At the same time, our faculty members teaching in China learn a great deal from their students about Chinese culture.”
Moving Forward
Sheppard brings diverse skills to the job as Thomas University’s president. He served as provost at Southwestern College, where he led significant changes in educational offerings, including securing accreditation for the college’s first doctoral program. He has a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Bethany College, a master’s degree in historical theology from Iliff School of Theology, and a doctorate in history of philosophy from the University of Sheffield in England.
Sheppard describes himself as an “infrastructure and finance guy” that is looking forward to building on the school’s strong foundation and potential for expansion.
“It is about smart growth,” Sheppard said. “There is a lot of talk in higher education about growth, but we want to grow in a healthy and intentional way. I don’t want to grow just for the sake of growing.”
Even though Thomas University is 67 years old, Sheppard describes it as a “new institution, still able to write its own traditions.”
“Colleges are very organic, so we are still writing our story while we are trying to tell it, and that is an interesting challenge,” he said. “When you think about Thomas University, you see there have been a lot of changes, but there still remains a lot of energy.”
One area that has not changed is support from the community and Thomas University’s dedication to serving the region.
“Thomas University is of the community and not just in the community,” Sheppard said. “We serve a regional market, and this institution was created by the people of Thomas, Grady, and Colquitt counties. This growth is not from a state mandate but an expression of the will of the people in this community. They want to have a college here.”
Sheppard has been impressed with the long history of community support Thomas University has received.
“When you are only 67 years old, you don’t have a large alumni and donor base,” Sheppard said. “But our community has helped by providing all types of philanthropic support over the years. They feed our sports teams and invite students into their homes and care for them. It is amazing the way