New Peace U President: Student-First Focus, Change & Growth

0:00What's up? I'm Cory with the story, and these are your headlines from Durham News Today. William Peace University in downtown Raleigh is getting a new president this summer. Jennifer Walsh, a 55-year-old higher education veteran, is coming from Hawaii Pacific University to lead the historic campus. The school serves just over 700 undergrads across more than 30 majors and traces its roots back to the 1850s. Walsh brings experience from several West Coast schools and says she's drawn to peace for its true student-first focus and openness to change. Though she has no prioritized in North Carolina, her family has moved east recently, making the shift feel right for her next chapter. Local leaders see peace as Raleigh's best kept secret, often overlooked amid bigger names. Walsh plans to change that by partnering with businesses for internships and tailored programs, boosting the school's visibility right in the heart of the city. To tackle challenges like a 32% 4-year graduation rate and steady enrollment growth,

1:02she's targeting transfers from community, colleges and expanding online options for military students. On finances, with $11.5 million in debt and 25 million in deferred maintenance, she notes the budget is stable and buildings are solid, mostly needing cosmetic updates. With passionate faculty, staff and students at its core, peace is poised for thoughtful evolution in a fast-changing higher-ed landscape, keeping. Student success front and center as it grows.