History
Our Journey to Florida's Top Christian University
In a time of cultural unsettlement, Palm Beach Atlantic University was founded in
1968 as a coeducational Christian liberal arts university. The first classes at Palm
Beach Atlantic University, formerly Palm Beach Atlantic College named for its location
in the Palm Beaches, were held in the fall of 1968 in downtown West Palm Beach at
1101 South Olive Avenue in the former facilities of the First Baptist Church. PBA
held its first graduation in the spring of 1972 and later that year received initial
accreditation from the regional accrediting association.
Over the years, Palm Beach Atlantic has expanded to approximately 29 acres of land from
the Intracoastal Waterway west along Okeechobee Boulevard to Dixie Highway, south
to Jefferson Street, and back east to the waterway but all began with the first building,
the Lassiter Student Center, which was occupied in 1983.
Currently, PBA's main campus is located on Flagler Drive with stunning views of the
Intracoastal, and steps away from Palm Beach.
Recent Campus Additions
- August 2017: The final renovations of Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Athletic campus were completed
in the form of the John & Sheila Rinker Sports Center, a building which houses the
athletic staff, a state-of-the-art weight room and locker rooms for varsity athletics.
To learn more about the Rinker Athletic Campus, click here.
- September 2015: PBA President William M.B. Fleming Jr. (right) cut the ribbon the 79-acre, $18 million
Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Athletic Campus not far from the college's main campus.
The RAC, as it quickly became known, is home to most of PBA's outdoor sports including
soccer, baseball, tennis and lacrosse, plus intramurals. Beach volleyball, racquetball
and basketball courts also are planned.
Other Campus Additions
- 2009: Fern Street Theatre | A nearly 12,000-square-foot, two-story building in the heart of the arts district
on Fern Street, includes a “black box” theatre and houses offices, classrooms and
performance space.
- 2007: Warren Library | Phase 1 Warren Library opened in 2007 with the second phase of construction, renovation
of the historic octagonal building that served as the original PBA structure, was
completed in 2009.
- 2004: Gregory Hall | Houses the Gregory School of Pharmacy with more than 40,000 square feet of research
and educational space for pharmacy students.
- 2003: DeSantis Family Chapel | The DeSantis Family Chapel provides a stunning, dedicated worship space for 400.
- 2003: Orlando Campus | PBA opened a campus in Orlando that provides 6,600 square feet of classroom and
office space for evening and graduate degree programs. PBA Orlando is located at 4700
Millenia Blvd #100, Orlando, FL
- 2002: Vera Lea Rinker Hall | VLR is the home of the School of Music and Fine Arts, with more than 43,000 square
feet of performance, classroom, practice and studio space.
The Schools of Palm Beach Atlantic
The University is organized into Schools:
Over the years the University has experienced steady growth in enrollment, academics
and resources. See the most up-to-date numbers about PBA at PBA At a Glance.
Faith in God, Country at Core of PBA
Throughout PBA's history, the university has expanded in acreage, facilities and student
growth but there has been one constant: the three guiding principles. Palm Beach Atlantic
University was founded on the teachings of Christ, the drive to instill a love for
the country, American values and the free enterprise economic system, and finally,
community service.
Those three guiding principles allowed the PBA community to prosper into what it is
today: a community of leaders that follow the path of Christ.
Read more about PBA's history in Miracle and Wonders.
"In the early years, Dr. Donald Warren has been fond of a simple axiom: "Do not follow
where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path, and leave a trail." In
conjunction with that saying came the biblical admonition, "In all thy ways acknowledge
Him and He will direct thy paths." From the early days of "Make-Do-U" to the days
of wireless Internet access and state-of-the-art facilities, the men and women who
worked and supported Palm Beach Atlantic University never deviated from that path."
- Excerpt from "Guided by God's Hand: PBA's First 35 Years"
Presidents

Dr. Jess Moody
1968-1972

Dr. Warren E. Fusselle
1972-1977

Dr. George R. Borders
1978-1981

Dr. Claude H. Rhea
1982-1990

Dr. Paul R. Corts
1991-2002

Dr. David W. Clark
2003-2009

Lu Hardin
2010-2011

William M. B. Fleming Jr.
2011-2020

Dr. Debra A. Schwinn
2020 -
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