The time of the last year up till the start of the new semester has been nothing short of chaotic for Averett University. Having gone through three presidents in less than three months, as well as a flurry of admin changes, and program cuts. Averett is now into a new school year and things are starting to normalize and trend in a positive direction. Now in his first full year as President, Dr. Thomas Powell looks to get to know the students of the school, as well as students getting to know him. Powell hails from the great state of Pennsylvania, and was previously the president of Mt. St. Mary’s University before coming to Averett. Coming to Danville, he brings a ton of experience that will bring Averett into the next Generation.
“ First Immediately before coming to Averett, I was retired and I never thought I would go back to a presidency, the board chair, Dr. Dan Carlton, had given me a call and said that we are looking for an experienced president to help us through our little rough spot here at Averett, and at first I said, “oh I don’t know whether I want to work”, at first I said no, but then I reevaluated, and I read about Averett University, its history here, its place in Southern Virginia, our graduates, and then I said, I’m all in.” Powell said.
Aside from all of his predecessors, Dr. Powell wanting to take this job, not out of a sense of obligation to digging averett out of its struggling financial situation, but out of a sense of wanting to be here because he felt a sense of belonging says a lot about the future of the university and how it is just getting started on being great again.
Dr. Powell brings with him a bit more experience than past presidents, bouncing around multiple universities starting with his long 40-year tenure as a professor at the University of Connecticut, from there going to Vanderbilt University to get his Doctoral credentials, then going to Montana State where he held the position of Dean, from there bouncing to Winthrop University where he held the same title. Then at the age of 45, is when he was given the opportunity to take the office of President for the very first time in his life at Glendale State University in West Virginia. Going from there to Mt. St. Mary’s University which brings us to the present, and AU having the honor to have him lead the university here in Danville.
“Having lived several places, I love Danville, I find it to be our kind of a town, its earliest histories as a tobacco, and kind of a mill town for fabrics, It is great to see the revitalization and reimagining of Danville, the people are really nice, and very welcoming.” Powell said.
Having to drop everything to join the cougars for last semesters graduation, after being hired and thrown in the deep end, Powell seems to be nothing but encouraged for his future at Averett. Still In the middle of the move from Gettysburg, Pa, Powell is finding time to be able to adjust to his new chapter, and to everything going on, on campus this semester for the cougars.
“I’ve been very busy here, and my family is still in Gettysburg, my wife has been down a few times, but we are going to make that big move here soon, it came about so quick, and I have seven children with four still living at home.” Powell said.
If it’s one of the things that Averett is all about is being one team and one family, and there is no doubt that Dr. Thomas Powell shares that same mentality. The future is bright for Averett now that Dr. Powell is here to stay for a long time. No doubt that the cougars have found their president that will bring them into the next generation.
