Message from President Hopkins

Dear Converse friends,

Last week, the Board of Trustees began the new year with a spirit of promise and excitement as we celebrated Converse's momentous accomplishments in 2023 and looked ahead to even greater growth.

Read on to learn more about these meetings and the plans Converse is making as we empower students today to become the transformative leaders of tomorrow.

Together, WE WILL

President Hopkins

BEING AGENTS OF TRANSFORMATION

The Board of Trustees met on January 25-26, 2024, at the Downtown Marriott. Over the course of their visit, Trustees were presented updates on:

the state of the university — underscoring the connections between Converse's guiding values and the work of the Strategic Vision Plan;
new enrollment strategies for 2024 and proposed marketing expansions;
a distinct focus on recruitment efforts for graduate and adult degree completion programs;
university finances and operations; and
endowment reporting.

The board meeting concluded on Friday with executive sessions in which the board reviewed tenure and promotions, sabbaticals, and award recipients.

FOSTERING WISE LEADERS

During Thursday morning sessions, guest speakers from EAB, an enrollment partner, led the Board through a series of presentations focused on driving progress toward institutional priorities.

Seth Harris, Principal with EAB’s Financial Aid Optimization team, used a research approach to engage the Board in a wide-ranging conversation about the most pressing challenges facing higher education enrollment today. Benton Brown, Partner Development Executive at EAB, followed Harris's presentation with highly interactive discussion about the Converse experience and how we as an institution can bring those distinctions to the forefront of our enrollment marketing efforts.

The Board used these data-driven insights to thoughtfully discuss strategies that align with Converse's mission and vision while meeting the needs of today's students.

CREATING A CULTURE OF BELONGING

While Trustees had the opportunity to meet with each other in a larger group setting, Board members also enjoyed several smaller gatherings during the course of their stay.

This included a campus tour and dinner at the Piedmont Club on Wednesday, and a cocktail buffet, hosted by Nancy Bain '79 and Paul Coté, on Thursday evening. Many Trustees also stayed on Friday to celebrate the life of Miss Gee during a drop-in birthday celebration hosted by the Converse College for Women at the cabin.

Events such as these not only bolster Converse's strong network but also help to strengthen personal connections within the Board.

CELEBRATING ONE ANOTHER

In recognition for their commitment to teaching, scholarship, and service, the Converse Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the following faculty members who have been awarded tenure and promotion to the rank of Associate Professor:

Dr. Lee Givens

Department of Leadership

Dr. Courtney LeBauer

Petrie School of Music

Dr. Evan Thomas

Department of Marriage and Family Therapy

Professor Laura Zeisler

Department of Art, Design, & Letters

In recognition for his commitment to teaching, scholarship, and service, the Converse Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the following faculty member who has been awarded tenure and promotion to the rank of Full Professor: