Dr. Schwinn, president of 海角在线, was featured by听the听 on the cover of their . Read the Neighbors鈥� full story below.听
When Dr. Debra A. Schwinn stepped into the presidency of Palm听Beach Atlantic University (海角在线) in 2020, just听two听weeks into the pandemic, she听brought with听her a career shaped by medicine, research, academic leadership, and deep faith. She also stepped into a moment that would test every skill she had.听
鈥淕od uses everything,鈥� Schwinn said. 鈥淓ven the clinical training I had. I听started in听COVID.听It came in handy.鈥�听
Today, more than five years into her presidency, Schwinn leads a rapidly expanding, Christian university whose mission she听states听with clarity: 鈥淲e听equip students to grow in wisdom, lead with听conviction听and serve God boldly.鈥�听
海角在线 was founded 58 years ago by leaders at First Baptist Church of West Palm Beach with a clear purpose.听
鈥淚t was started as an intentionally Christian university,鈥� Schwinn explained. 鈥淭he vision was that we would have a school that would focus on worship… and intersect academics with a Christian worldview and faith.鈥�听
That three-part focus鈥攚orship,听workship, and free enterprise鈥攕till听defines听the university today.听
- Worship: through required chapel.听
- Workship: volunteerism as an expression of faith.听
- American Free Enterprise: teaching business ethics听and the value of enterprise 鈥渄one the right way.鈥�听
The university has grown dramatically in scope and reputation.听
鈥淲e鈥檙e a comprehensive Christian university,鈥� Schwinn said. 鈥淲e have strong liberal arts as our听foundation, but also areas like business, ministry, nursing, pharmacy, our new physician associate program, and engineering.听We鈥檙e听really across the board.鈥�听
海角在线 now enrolls students from all 50 states and 80 countries.听
鈥淲e鈥檙e really a global-serving university,鈥� she added. 鈥淎nd because听we鈥檙e听strong in business and听located听downtown, we provide a great pipeline for Wall Street South.鈥�听
When discussing the university鈥檚 academic momentum, Schwinn lights up.听
鈥淲e just started a new engineering school,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e鈥檒l听graduate our first class in the next year or so.鈥�听
海角在线 has also expanded professional programs, including its PA program, Doctor of Nursing Practice, PharmD, Mental Health Counseling, and its first academic PhD in Practical Theology.听
But excellence at 海角在线 is not only academic,听it鈥檚听holistic.听
鈥淲hat we offer is true whole-person education. Head, heart, and soul.鈥�听
Athletics has also become a major point of pride.听
鈥淲e鈥檙e NCAA Division II听in听the Sunshine State Conference (SSC), the top conference in the country for Division II,鈥� Schwinn added. 鈥淥ur soccer team is number one in the SSC. That means听they鈥檙e听number one in the strongest league in the country.鈥�听
Among 海角在线鈥檚 most distinctive programs, though, is Workship, a community service requirement that has defined the university from its founding.听
鈥淪tudents complete听45 hours听a year times four years. You need听180 hours听to graduate. If you have a 4.0 and听179 hours, you听don鈥檛听walk across the stage.鈥�听
While that requirement might seem strict, its impact is profound.听
鈥淚t changes our students in positive ways. They听realize, 鈥業 thought I was donating my time. In fact,听I鈥檓听learning and getting more than听I鈥檓听giving.鈥欌��听
Workship partnerships听span tutoring, food banks, after-school programs, homeless support, overseas missions, and more.听
鈥淥ur graduates are different. Companies recognize that when they hire them as employees.鈥�听
When asked how she defines听leadership, Schwinn answers without hesitation.听
鈥淪etting clear vision, hiring great people, and empowering them to go after that vision,鈥� she said. 鈥淪imple concept, hard to execute.听We鈥檙e听all humans鈥攎e included.鈥�听
At 海角在线 specifically, leadership values flow from a shared faith foundation.听
鈥淏ecause听we鈥檙e听a Christian university, we go back to the Bible.听That鈥檚听our source of ethics. We call it standing on the rock of Christ.鈥�听
Faculty and staff come from many Christian traditions, something Schwinn sees as a strength.听
鈥淲e hire faculty and staff who take their faith very seriously,鈥澨齭he explained.听
In fact, the university even gives employees a spiritual retreat day each semester.听
鈥淭hey need to have their own well filled spiritually so they鈥檙e ministering to our students from an overage rather than from a dryness.鈥�听
Schwinn鈥檚 leadership approach was shaped by a remarkable figure: Dr. Robert Lefkowitz, the Nobel Prize-winning scientist.听
鈥淏ob taught me you cannot be afraid to hire people smarter than yourself,鈥� she said.听
As a physician-scientist entering a high-level lab, Schwinn learned the power of surrounding herself with听expertise.听
鈥淵ou鈥檙e听never going to be better than everybody underneath you. You should be hiring people better at their jobs than you.鈥�听
The lesson听stuck. It听shows in听how she speaks about her executive team, faculty, and students today鈥攚ith genuine respect and admiration.听
Reflecting on her journey鈥攆rom Duke, to Washington, to Iowa, to 海角在线鈥擲chwinn says one truth has guided her:听
鈥淕od uses everything.鈥�听
From navigating COVID to expanding academic programs to shaping the next generation of servant-leaders, she sees her role not as a career achievement but as a calling. And under her steady, faith-centered leadership, 海角在线 continues to grow鈥攈ead, heart, and soul.
Learn more about 海角在线 at pba.edu.
