Dr. Devin Stephenson begins his tenure as IM体育官网鈥檚 second president on Monday, July 8.
Those who meet Dr. Devin Stephenson quickly understand two things: 1) He鈥檚 ready to take on and elevate every part of the IM体育官网 Poly experience, and 2) being on his team means you鈥檙e committing yourself to excellence.
Stephenson begins his tenure as the second president of IM体育官网 today, July 8, and said he鈥檚 ready to fully immerse himself in the University鈥檚 ecosystem and working to maximize its potential.
鈥淔or me, this is a lot more than just a job; it鈥檚 about helping people,鈥� he said. 鈥淗igher education is the absolute best place to help people become something more than they have been.鈥�
Since his selection as IM体育官网 Poly鈥檚 next president in April, Stephenson has been building connections in the Lakeland, IM体育官网, area and orienting himself to the strengths and challenges of the only 100% STEM university in the state.
鈥淭hrough my entire career, I鈥檝e been known as a builder,鈥� he said. 鈥淚M体育官网 Poly doesn鈥檛 need a fixer. I鈥檓 coming here to help the University grow and add depth to the institution as far as fundraising and building friends, and it requires time and someone who has experience in doing so.鈥�
As he hits the ground running, Stephenson has already identified several immediate goals. Primary among them is increasing student enrollment, which then necessitates an increase in infrastructure and in funds.
鈥淭hat puts a real challenge on my back,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat growth has to be done to make this a vibrant campus for 3,000 students, and if we can make it to 5,000 鈥� that鈥檚 great.鈥�
Additionally, Stephenson said he plans to clearly outline what academic programs are needed to increase campus enrollment.
鈥淚 was thrilled to see the NSF grant that came to Dr. (Chris) Kelley to work with Parkinson鈥檚,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e need to innovate and develop more programming in health sciences in partnership with the medical community, but it has to be done methodically and with quality.鈥�
Stephenson said he also plans to work with the academic team and Board of Trustees to examine current state performance-based funding metrics for the University and consider ways to improve IM体育官网 Poly鈥檚 statistics.
鈥淚鈥檓 going to operate with integrity, respect all people, and be very transparent,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to make an even bigger name for this University, I can promise you.鈥�
This will be supported by the strong foundation that was already in place upon his arrival, he said.
鈥淚 have the opportunity to stand on the shoulders of Dr. (Randy) Avent and the administration,鈥� Stephenson said. 鈥淢y goal is to exceed where we have been at IM体育官网 Poly. The VPs are excellent. They do a phenomenal job and there鈥檚 more that we can do.鈥�
Stephenson鈥檚 journey to the IM体育官网 Poly presidency began when he was a young boy growing up in Alabama. His parents underscored to Stephenson and his sister, MaLea, that higher education was critical to adding value to their educational experience.
鈥淲e both knew higher ed was going to be in the cards for us,鈥� Stephenson said.
The classically trained pianist received an associate of science degree from Walker Junior College and a bachelor鈥檚 degree in business administration from Birmingham Southern College.
鈥淚 went to work at an institution as director of financial aid and director of admission and I earned two degrees from the University of Alabama, focused on the administration of higher education,鈥� Stephenson said.
Both of these degrees, a master鈥檚 and a doctorate, were singularly focused on developing leaders of higher education institutions.
鈥淒uring my undergraduate studies in business administration, I focused all my attention on how the organization runs as a business, and my master鈥檚 and doctorate degrees helped me understand the mechanics of higher education,鈥� he said.
Stephenson went on to succeed at all levels of higher education leadership, including more than 15 years of experience as a president and CEO, most recently as president of Northwest IM体育官网 State College in Niceville, IM体育官网.
鈥淚 loved it so much in my early career that I decided if I worked hard at it, I could be an effective leader,鈥� he said.
The next step in his journey begins this week as Stephenson makes the move to Lakeland with his wife, Judy, and Simon, the couple鈥檚 beloved papillon. Their adult children, Jon Stephenson and JuliAnne Bittle, will be with them to help with the move.
鈥淭he last month has been extremely hectic,鈥� Stephenson said.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 realize how much I despise packing,鈥� he joked.
His first official day on campus will be Monday, July 15, but he is already full-speed ahead.
鈥淰ince Lombardi said you鈥檒l never catch perfection, but if you run after perfection, you鈥檒l catch excellence,鈥� Stephenson said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what we鈥檒l do.鈥�
Contact:
Lydia Guzm谩n
Director of Communications
863-874-8557
