Dr. Carlos Campo, President of Regent University

CBN.com When Pat Robertson established Regent University in 1978, he envisioned a high-caliber institution that would attract a leadership team brimming with superior professional experience and extraordinary academic credentials. In just over three decades Regent University has become one of our nation’s leading academic centers for Christian thought and action. Yesterday, October 28, 2010, Regent University welcomed Dr. Carlos Campo as its eighth president.

Campo has had an impressive 20-year career in higher education. He was a four-time recipient of one of academia’s most coveted recognitions, “Who’s Who Among American Teachers,” an accolade that is student-generated and recognizes a professor who has had a significant impact on the nominating student’s life. “Coming to Regent, of course, I was called by God,” says Campo, “I wanted to be at a place where I had the opportunity to be able to speak into students’ lives and know them.”

Since joining Regent in 2008 as Vice President for Academic Affairs, Campo has led the Regent University team through its most recent successful accreditation process. This resulted in full accreditation from the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools—an accomplishment that has strengthened the university’s academic standing and stature. “There are many things I hope to be able to do as president,” says Campo, “and it is important for Christians to have a voice in higher education.”

Working with Regent’s Board of Trustees, Campo helped form a “Spiritual Vitality Committee,” which initiates and enhances spiritual activities on campus to sustain the University’s Christ-centered mission. Many of their recommendations are being implemented to enhance the spiritual climate on campus. Campo also sparked an initiative to measure and improve each student’s spiritual journey while at Regent. “Seventy percent of all students feel that their college experience should affect them deeply,” says Campo, “I hope to be able to do that with a commitment to high academic standards, engaging in excellence, integrity and innovation that is Regent University.”

Campo also created two new strategic positions within Academic Affairs: a Director of Military Affairs and a Director of Church Relations. In addition, he worked with an effective team to launch “RU Global” and Regent University’s “Quality Enhancement Plan,” which focuses on “defining and enhancing Christian global competence” in students and faculty. He has also worked with a team to create an Office of Institutional Effectiveness, which is developing a culture of continuous assessment and improvement in every area on campus.
“Regent has outstanding programs, beautiful facilities, and an exciting mission and vision but it is our people who make us truly great,” says Campo.