B U S I N E S S + C U LT U R E 43 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 Thomasville supports our faculty and students. This is an incredibly tight community.” Businesses have sent employees to Thomas University to get their MBA, and I think that provides added value to Thomasville. 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. - John Glenn John Glenn Thomas University Board of Trustees