Drew Van Horn Explained

Drew L. Van Horn
Office:23rd President of Young Harris College
Term Start:October 1, 2017
Office2:12th President of Brevard College
Term Start2:October 1, 2002
Term End2:May 31, 2011
Predecessor2:J. William Moncrief
Successor2:Charles Teague
Birth Name:Drew Layne Van Horn
Birth Date:15 May 1960
Birth Place:Burke County, North Carolina, U.S.
Education:Elon University B.A.
Campbell University M.A.
University of South Carolina Ph.D.
Spouse:Joette Van Horn (1983-1990)
Camille Van Horn
Children:2
Parents:Forest Edward Van Horn and Rose Elenore A.Van Horn

Drew Van Horn (born May, 1960) is an American college president and administrator. He is the 23rd president of Young Harris College in Young Harris, Georgia invested in October, 2017. He previously served as President of Brevard College from 2002 through 2011[1] [2] [3] and a vice president at several other colleges.

Education

Van Horn graduated from East Burke High School in Icard, North Carolina in 1978. He attended Elon College in Elon, North Carolina on a basketball scholarship.[4]

Van Horn earned a bachelor's degree cum laude in human service studies from Elon in 1982; the following year he received a master's degree in counseling from Campbell University; and an educational Doctorate from the University of South Carolina in 2002.[5]

Professional

Elon

Following graduate school, Van Horn returned to Elon College as director of Student activities. After 3 years at Elon he left to join the Fellowship of Christian Athletes as assistant state director in North Carolina for 3 years before returning to Elon where he was Director of Alumni and Parent Relations, then Director of Development and Major Gifts.[6] From mid-1995 to the end of 1996 he worked for the Independent College Fund of North Carolina as executive director. At the ICFNC Van Horn developed and executed a yearly fundraising plan; lobbied the North Carolina General Assembly; recruited and trained members of their Board of Directors and the Presidents from North Carolina's 27 member colleges and universities as volunteer funding solicitors; and decreased the cost of fundraising while increasing contributions.

He was at Gardner-Webb University from 1996 to 2002 as vice president for University Relations and Advancement. During that time, he secured grants from the Kresge Foundation and Lilly Endowment; completed a $30 million capital campaign titled, Dreaming, Daring and Doing and nearly doubled the annual giving program.

Brevard

Dr. Van Horn assumed the Presidency of Brevard College in 2002.[7] During his eight-plus years at Brevard, he increased freshman student enrollment by nearly half, increased student retention significantly, conducted the school's first-ever capital campaign that generated $19 million, and created three new academic majors. He also oversaw the school's conversion to NCAA Division II athletics from NAIA with membership in the South Atlantic Conference.[8]

On February 1, 2011, Van Horn announced his resignation from Brevard College effective May 31, giving the school time to transition a replacement.[9]

Post Brevard

After leaving Brevard, he established Decision-matters, LLC, a consulting firm for leadership development and training. Beginning in 2012, he spent more than four years at Lenoir–Rhyne University as VP of institutional advancement where he successfully managed their $65 million fundraising campaign. He left Hickory, NC to take the same position on an interim basis at Iowa Wesleyan University where he created a capital campaign while managing public and internal relations.[10]

Young Harris

Young Harris College inducted him as college president in 2017.

Honors

During his years at Elon, Van Horn was inducted into the Omicron Delta Kappa leadership and Alpha Chi academic honor societies.

Van Horn was selected as a CoSIDA (GTE) Academic All-American in basketball two years running (1981-1982).[11] In 2005 he was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at Elon University.[12] Elon College honored Van Horn with their Distinguished Alumni award on May 2, 2022. Those honored have established "careers of excellence in their fields with a commitment to Elon’s values of integrity, honesty, service and leadership."

In October 2022 Georgia Governor Brian Kemp appointed Van Horn to the board of the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission.[13] Eleven members sit on the board, each of whom is appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Georgia Senate. Each member may serve up to (two) three-year terms.[14]

Civic Involvement

Van Horn has also worked with service organizations in the communities where he lived, helping them form fundraising plans and strategic goals. He was selected as a Thrivent Leadership Program Fellow.[15]

Throughout his career, Van Horn has been active in civic leadership. He is a member of Rotary International and has worked with numerous county and regional organizations wherever he resided.

Personal

Van Horn is married to his wife, Camille. They have two adult children, Julia and Jackson.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Freytes . Elvin . The Needs & Desires of Today's Students - with Dr. Drew L. Van Horn, President of Young Harris College . The EDUP Experience . Stitcher . 6 March 2023 . Episode 435 May 9, 2022.
  2. News: Rich . Jonathan . Brevard College names new president . 26 February 2023 . Blue Ridge Now . Gannett Company . September 19, 2002.
  3. Web site: Sallustio . Joe . Listening to Students with Dr. Drew Van Horn, Young Harris College . Fierce Education . 12 May 2022 . Questex LLC . 6 March 2023.
  4. Web site: Drew Van Horn – Class of 1978 . Always East Burke Alumni, Faculty & Staff Directory . East Burke Alumni . 6 March 2023.
  5. Web site: Presidential Bio . YHC.EDU . 21 November 2011 . Young Harris College . 22 February 2023.
  6. Web site: Drew Layne Van Horn, Ph.D. . Docplayer.net . Docplayer repository . 27 February 2023.
  7. Web site: Brevard College to Inaugurate 12th President, Dr. Drew L. Van Horn Today, Oct. 10 . Asheville Community News . Mainstreet Online . 26 February 2023.
  8. News: Van Horn Leaving College's Top Job . 26 February 2023 . Transylvania Times . Transylvania Times . Feb 3, 2011.
  9. Web site: Harbin . John . Brevard College president announces resignation . Blue Ridge Now . Gannett Company . 26 February 2023 . February 1, 2011.
  10. Web site: Lenoir-Rhyne names new Vice President for Institutional Advancement . alumni.lr.edu . Lenoir-Rhyne University . 26 February 2023 . Winter 2013.
  11. News: Seibring Earns Second-Straight Academic All-America Honor . 26 February 2023 . Elon Phoenix . Elon University . March 12, 2018.
  12. News: Elon announces inductees to Sports Hall of Fame . 27 February 2023 . Greensboro News & Record . July 1, 2005.
  13. News: Dorsett . Chad . YHC PRESIDENT APPOINTED AS GEORGIA NONPUBLIC POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION COMMISSIONER . 26 February 2023 . 96.3 WRBN FM . Georgia-Carolina Radiocasting Company. . October 31, 2022.
  14. Web site: Drew Van Horn . GNPEC.GOV . State of Georgia . 22 February 2023.
  15. Web site: Abernathy . Michael . Elon College, the College of Arts & Sciences honors distinguished alumni . Today at Elon . 2 May 2022 . Elon University . May 2, 2022.