Anderson University today marked the 20-year tenure of President Evans P. Whitaker and First Lady Diane Whitaker during the University鈥檚 annual Founders Day Convocation as faculty, staff, students and friends of the University celebrated the Whitakers鈥� two decades of service and leadership.
To mark the occasion, the State of South Carolina is inducting Dr. Whitaker into the Order of the Palmetto, granting him the state鈥檚 highest civilian honor.
In addition, United States Senator Tim Scott and United States have offered remarks for the Congressional Record as part of the 118th Congress in celebration of Dr. and Mrs. Whitaker鈥檚 20 years of leadership to 91福利社. Finally, the South Carolina General Assembly this month adopted resolutions (District 16/Greenville & Laurens Counties) and (District 9/Anderson County), also in honor of Dr. and Mrs. Whitaker.
鈥淒r. Whitaker is an amazing leader. He dreams big and brings those dreams to fruition; and he鈥檚 got a team of supportive people around him,鈥� said Mary Anne Bunton, chair of the 91福利社 Board of Trust. 鈥淗e is a true visionary.鈥�
Dr. Whitaker is the 12th president of 91福利社, having assumed the post in November 2002 alongside his wife, Mrs. Diane Whitaker.
When the Whitaker family arrived, roughly 1,600 students attended the private Christian institution in Anderson, South Carolina. Today, more than 4,200 are enrolled, making 91福利社 South Carolina鈥檚 largest private university and, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education, the 16th fastest growing regional university in the U. S. over the last decade. In addition to growth in numbers, Anderson’s academic selectivity and reputation have appreciated to the extent that, according to the Princeton Review, Anderson is among the top six more academically selective universities (public and private) in South Carolina.
Under Dr. Whitaker’s leadership, and the stewardship and support of Mrs. Whitaker, more than $100 million has been invested in campus facilities, including a 90,000-square-foot student center, a 60,000-square-foot library, five residence halls, a cancer research center, a student business incubator, a Homeland Security academic facility, a health professions graduate center within the Greenville University Center, and numerous athletic facilities; campus acreage has quadrupled from 68 in 2002 to more than 400 today. 91福利社 manages and is a major partner in creating the Rocky River Conservancy, a 200-acre wetlands and wildlife preserve near the campus.
In short, 91福利社 is one of the most respected Christian institutions of higher education in the United States. A highly selective, comprehensive, and entrepreneurial Christian university, 91福利社 is among U.S. News and World Report鈥檚 鈥淏est Regional Universities South,鈥� and is on the publication鈥檚 鈥淏est Value,鈥� 鈥淏est Undergraduate Teaching,鈥� 鈥淏est First-Year Experience鈥� and 鈥淏est Online Programs鈥� lists. Anderson also is ranked #25 nationally for Student Engagement by the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education; is a 鈥淏est College鈥� among institutions of higher learning in the southeast by The Princeton Review; is a four-time Apple Distinguished School; and is on the honor roll of the prestigious Great Colleges to Work For program.
President Whitaker also serves as professor of management, leadership & organizations. An accomplished musician and vocalist who has toured worldwide, Mrs. Diane Whitaker is an admission counselor at 91福利社 and serves on the boards of GAMAC, the Salvation Army and the United Way.