Letter from the President
I am delighted to greet you and share this wonderful news: Palm Beach Atlantic has received the largest single gift in the school’s history, igniting plans to build a new home for the thriving Marshall E. Rinker Sr. School of Business. Below you see an architect’s rendering of the beautiful building, a six-story flagship structure to be placed directly behind the Warren Library.
Many of you know about the namesake of our business school, “Doc” Rinker, as he often
was called. About 58 years ago, when PBA was only a dream, he provided our first donation:
a check for $500. Multi-million dollar gifts from him and his family would bless the
school in the years that followed. And now his son, John J. Rinker, has provided the
pivotal donation to kick-start our drive for a new business building. So once again,
Rinker generosity dramatically propels Palm Beach Atlantic forward.
Click here to find details about the planned building, along with much information about the
Rinker School of Business, which is nationally and regionally accredited and has nearly
600 students. Page seven tells about one of the school’s powerful new programs: Business
Data Analytics, while pages eight and nine introduce you to two of our extraordinary
recent business graduates.
And here’s even bigger news: The new home for the Rinker School of Business comes as the first initiative in a campus master plan to unleash infinite possibilities at Palm Beach Atlantic University. See pages 18-19 here for a peek at this “God-sized dream,” a multi-phased campaign that we invite you to join.
We see enormous potential ahead, as PBA continues to grow in facilities, programs, impact and enrollment. Note that fall 2022 has brought us the largest incoming class of students in our history.
As we grow, we stand firmly committed to our mission: equipping students to grow in
wisdom, lead with conviction and serve God boldly. Learn more about how that’s happening,
in other stories grouped by our motto Enlightening Minds, Enriching Souls, Extending
Hands. Watch for QR codes or web addresses that will take you to related video and
other resources.
I thanked God as I reviewed the stories: Fulbright winners, grants from the Lilly
Endowment, outreach by our students and other rich blessings. My heart was glad, following
St. Paul’s command proclaimed in banners as our theme verse for 2022-23: “Rejoice
in the Lord always.”
Warmly,
Dr. Debra A. Schwinn, President
Historic Incoming Class
The Fall 2022 semester opened with the largest incoming class in PBA’s history: 844 new freshmen and transfer students. They hailed from 42 states and 37 countries. During Welcome Week they moved into their residence halls, met fellow Sailfish and participated in foundational PBA experiences, such as serving through Workship and practicing servant leadership.
‘We can change someone’s life by serving,’ says award-winning student-athlete
In addition to the four chapel services offered each week, Palm Beach Atlantic presents Christival, an annual celebration of faith, worship and learning. In that forum, Ethiopian native Birhanu van der Riet spoke of his journey of faith and challenges he’s faced. “I was praying that God would lead me to a community that would encourage me and spur me to His love and to follow Him,” he said. “I’m so grateful for the PBA community, and ultimately I’m so grateful that God led me here to this place.”
Six-story “Flagship” Building Planned for the Business School
An architect’s rendering of the six-story building graces the front and back covers of this President’s Report. The image on this page shows the dramatic, two-story atrium that will welcome visitors to the Rinker School. The new building to house the Marshall E. Rinker Sr. School of Business will become the “crown jewel” of the PBA campus, predicted Dr. Brian Strow, dean of the business school.
Record Rinker Gift Drives Plans for New Business Building
John J. Rinker remembers fondly when Palm Beach Atlantic broke ground for the first home of the Marshall E. Rinker Sr. School of Business in 1990. “This stands out because all three sons were there with our father, shovels in hand, and participated in the ceremony,” he said. “The fact that it was tied together with PBA makes it special.”